<b>Chapter </b>81


    Harper


    :


    27)


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    Her words cut so deep that I could feel the ache in my heart and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. How dare she bring up my parents like that?


    She nonchntly picked up her ss of juice, took a slow sip and set it down again, all while keeping her <b>gaze </b>locked on me.


    Right across from me, Tiffany smirked, not bothering to hide her delight. She loved every minute of her mother’s cruelty towards me.


    My gaze then shifted to Grayson, who was right next to her and for the first time<b>, </b>ever since we’d all taken our seats at that table, he didn’t seem to be on their side. His posture was stiff, his eyes darting away like he couldn’t bear to be part of what was going on. He knew my family history and just how deep his mother–in-w’s words hadnded. The difort on his face also told me he wished she hadn’t gone there.


    Mr Aldridge didn’t even bother saying anything, but the way his fork stopped mid–air with a nk expression as he pushed his te away, was louder than anything else.


    Mrs Aldridge had gone too far and every second I sat there, made my blood boil. I was so furious that I just wanted to get up and leave, not just the table, but the estate.


    The more I looked around the table, the more my vision blurred as tears threatened to roll down my cheeks. I didn’t want to burst into tears right in front of her and her daughter.


    But just as I attempted to push my chair back, Maddox’s firm hand rested on top of mine under the table. He didn’t say a word, but when I looked over at him, he smiled faintly as his eyes told me to stay.


    I thought about it and realized if I walked away at that moment, Mrs Aldridge would have gotten exactly what she wanted and I wasn’t about to give her that satisfaction.


    I nced at the chandelier above to hold back my tears and when I looked back at her, my voice trembled at first but grew steadier with every word.


    “Unfortunately, I still don’t know who my father is.” I let that fact hang in the air before continuing, Maddox still holding my hand. “So I guess I’lle with Aunt Patricia next time. You’re all going to love her.”


    “That’s wonderful,” Mr Aldridge chimed in warmly, leaning forward with genuine curiosity. His eyes thoughtfully softened in a way that made my chest loosen. “I can’t tell if I’ve met her before. Who exactly is


    she?”


    Relief washed over me as I began to tell him about Aunt Patricia and where she worked. He nodded along, recognizing the ce and even expressing interest in meeting her there if I’d take a while to bring <b>her </b><b>over</b>. His attention was <b>so </b>sincere that my face lit up.


    Beside me, Maddox gently squeezed my hand, pride shing in his <b>eyes </b>at how I’d managed to to turn the situation around without even raising my <b>voice </b>orshing out at his <b>step</b>–mother.


    <b>ok </b><b>on </b>her face She <b>was </b><b>so </b>disappointed that she barely


    8:59 Wed, <b>Oct </b><b>1 </b>


    touched her dessert.


    :


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    Tiffany pursed her lips with crossed arms, the two of them ncing at each other with a knowing look.


    I was still chatting with Maddox and his father when I nced at Grayson and caught his lips curved into a small smile. Was he d that I hadn’t given his mother–inw and wife the reaction they wanted? I couldn’t understand him anymore and that left me unsettled.


    The dessert left a bitter taste in my mouth as I kept on reying Mrs Aldridge’s words over and over and over again.


    I was just d I could finally get away from the dining room as Maddox brought me out to one of themon balconies, his hand around my waist even when we got there and no one was watching.


    It was only when I wanted to rest the back of my forearms on the railing that he let me go.


    I even leaned forward, watching the beauty of the estate, from the flowers, to the blooming trees and the cool breeze hitting my face all the way down to my exposed shoulders.


    “I’d ask if you’re okay, but I already know the answer to that,” he said, standing behind me and trapping me with his arms by cing his hands on the railing.


    I sighed, shaking my head. “I knew she was up to something, but not that.”


    He chuckled. “Anything is possible with her and that look on her fucking face was everything when she failed.”


    I chuckled. “Thanks.”


    “For what?”


    I looked up at him. “For making sure I didn’t get up. Things would’ve turned out differently.”


    “What type of boyfriend‘ would I be if I didn’t stop you?” He smirked.


    I chuckled as I looked back at the view below, but closed my eyes and arched my back when he suddenly began to reposition the ends of my hair that caressed my skin.


    “Even if we weren’t doing all this, I wasn’t going to let you do that in front of Margot and Tiffany.”


    I wasn’t even able to respond to that, too focused on the way he made me feel.


    When he stopped and took a few steps back, I pressed my lips together with disappointment. Just when it was starting to get good, he had to leave me wanting more.


    I felt him next to me and when I opened my eyes, there he was, looking around at the beauty below.


    “Which do you prefer, a custom made dress or something straight from a store? The fundraiser isn’t so far away.”


    9:00 Wed, Oct <b>1 </b>


    :


    “Well, since it’s a fundraiser, is there a need to look so…fancy?”


    He scoffed. “You really have a lot to learn.”


    “You’re right about that.” I admitted. “Your dad’s cool.”


    “I know. I’m finally seeing that again after so many years.”


    He had a poker face, as if a distant memory held his smile captive.


    “Are you okay?” I couldn’t help but ask.


    He smirked again. “Yup.”


    He was hiding behind that smirk and I didn’t push just yet.


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    I needed to use the bathroom and that seemed like some relief for him as we wouldn’t talk about it.


    “Do you remember your way around the house?” he asked, suddenly pulling me closer by the waist.


    My breath hitched as my chest came in contact with his. “You showed me the ground floor and first floor. I’m pretty sure I remember.”


    “Good. Call me if you need anything. I’m heading up to the study to talk to my dad. There’s something we need to discuss.”


    He didn’t let me go right away, rubbing his thumb on my lower lip, as he watched it closely. I even waited for him to lean forward and ce his lips on mine…or anything to not leave me hanging, but he suddenly held my hand and led the way back inside.


    While I hated it when he teased me like that, he knew exactly what he was doing as it would make me want every part of him even more when he’d make me moan his name.


    After washing my hands, I lingered at the sink, watching my reflection in the mirror for a while. My lips curved into a proud smile as I reyed Mrs Aldridge and Tiffany’s reaction when the n had backfired.


    I dried my hands, straightened my back and made my way out of the bathroom. I expected to have a few more minutes of peace, but the universe just had to test me because as soon as I closed the bathroom door, Tiffany came into view, leaning against the part of the wall that was on the same side as the bathroom. She had her arms crossed, like she had been waiting for me.


    “I honestly wonder what you did to get into my brother’s head,” she said, scrunching her nose. “Whatever it is, it won’tst. He was better off with Kate or literally everyone else who isn’t you.”


    Her aim might have been to make me feel worthless, but I was far from feeling that way.


    With a smug, I tilted my head. “Why are you so confident it won’tst?<b>” </b>


    She pushed herself off the wall with her eyes narrowed in disbelief, clearly not expecting me to snap back at


    9:00 Wed, Oct 1


    her so quickly.


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    “Hmm, let’s see. My brother has never brought any girl home, not once, but you being here doesn’t make you special.”


    I chuckled. “Hmm, I think it does.”


    “Nope. It makes you temporary. That’s why I’m not worried about this.”


    She was extremely confident in her words, but I refused to let her see me falter.


    “Funny,” I said. “You sound worried to me.”


    When I made it a few steps past her to get away, her handtched onto my arm and she pulled me back, my eyes widening as I came face to face with her again.


    “Why are you leaving so soon?” she sneered.


    I pulled my arm away with a grunt. “We have nothing to talk about.”


    “Oh, really?” She chuckled, like she was up to something.


    I turned to keep walking in the opposite direction, but her voice echoed through the hallway, her next words making me freeze.


    “We definitely have something to talk about, unless you tell me that you don’t care about Anna’s phone.”