Page 32 of The Revenge Plan

“Probably that’s because he’s about to get out of the financial rut he created for himself,” Caiden replied.

“What? How did you know about that?”

“I have my ways.” His face was blank and gave a little away. If that was the case, then it made sense why Caiden wanted the document. It would be a nail in his coffin. No wonder Bryce was jovial when I met him. Dad soon noticed us and gestured at us, “My lovely daughter and her new husband, gentlemen,” he said to the small crowd. He opened his arms, and I went in for the hug. He let go of me and shook Caiden’s hand.

His gaze went to me. “Marriage suits you.”

“Happy birthday,” I said as he motioned for the other men to leave us.

“There’s nothing happy about getting old at my age.” His attention darted from me to Caiden, “I hear you’ve been doing some heavy sacking.”

Caiden’s grip around my waist tightened, “Par for the course for a newly acquired company.”

“Mmm…” he mauled, clearly wanting to say more, but then thought better of it, “it’s yours now. You can do whatever you want with it.”

“The laid-off workers would get a better package under us than had Celeste stayed with Lyndell.”

It was a low blow. Tension filled the air between us as Dad glared at him. Gone was the jovial mood he had before. He gave a tight smile, then changed the subject. “I hope you’re taking care of your husband, Hailey. I don’t want to hear stories about you in the paper or that you’re trending or whatever.”

My face reddened as I looked around to see if no one had heard him. “You don’t have to worry about me, daddy. The papers are busy with your stories.”

“You nasty little bitch.” He stepped forward, looking like he was about to slap me right there in the middle of the ballroom. Caiden pressed me closer to him as a reflex. “You should be happy that I’ve given you some standing in society after your antics.”

“I never said I was.”

“If your mother was alive to hear this. To see you like this.” He sized me up in disgust, “It should have been you instead of her.”

“Julian!” Caiden looked surprised by the sparring. “Don’t you ever talk to my wife like that.”

“She’s my daughter, I can say whatever I want.”

“Not in front of me.”

He scoffed and left us. Caiden watched him leave and finally turned his attention to me. “Are you okay?” He brushed my cheek in a manner I couldn’t help but interpret as touching and I tried to hold the inevitable tears back. “What’s wrong with him?” he said.

“He does that all the time when he knows he can’t do anything to the person he’s speaking to.”

Caiden shook his head. “What do you mean?”

I sniffed a few tears that were threatening to roll down, “I’m his personal punching bag. He never hits me physically, of course. But loves being emotionally abusive towards me when he feels out of control.” I looked down at my feet, realizing something for the first time in years, “It’s the only time he ever gives me attention.”

“Fuck him.” I felt Caiden’s hands rub down my arms, soothing me. His pity made me feel even sadder. I didn’t want to appear pathetic in his eyes. I gazed back up at him, “Let’s go to the study,” I whispered, “Better to get on it now than later.”

“Look at you, Catwoman.”

I rolled my eyes at him, “Don’t raise your hopes.”

We slithered away and out of the drawing room, making sure we didn’t attract the attention of anyone. The hall leading to the study was dark and empty. The door was closed, but it wasn’t locked. I sighed in relief when it clicked open into a chilly and dark room. I turned on the light. It looked exactly like it had always had. Cluttered and overly masculine. The trout sculptures hanging over the wall, made me feel like I was being watched, and everywhere I looked was either a portrait of a boat or a model of a boat. I had avoided the room whenever possible, and I didn’t want to be here now.

“Can you keep a lookout?” I said to Caiden, who still hadn’t let go of my hand. He nodded and went to stand by the door.

The safe was accessed by pressing a button underneath the desk. It opened the faux bookshelf and revealed the safe. My hands were shaking when I tried the first combination. My birthday. A bleep and it flashed red. It was the wrong combination. I wasn’t expecting it, but a girl gotta at least try. The next was Bryce’s birthday. That failed. I tried Greyson’s birthday. Failed again. Mom’s failed too. Now I was panicking. “Is anyone coming?”

“The coast is clear,” Caiden stood calmly by the door with his hands in his pockets. He didn’t look like someone on a lookout. I guess that would be the way to do it if you didn’t want to raise suspicion. I went back to trying another combination. His birthday. Failed again. Now I was panicking. I tried redoing the birthdays backwards, starting by year.

“Someone’s coming.”

“Fuck,” my hands were shaking even more. “Maybe we shouldn’t.”

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