Chapter 0013
We were happy at one point, I thought, but seeing Jack so heated makes me wonder. Was our happy life ever real?
“Step back, Jack,” my father warns as I stand at his side. The protective tone makes my heart squeeze when I remember how much time he used to spend with me and my mother. We were a happy family when I was a kid. It’s not like that anymore.
Since mom died and Megan and Jessica came into the pienie, I’ve been set aside like the less shiny, old toy.
“Daddy, you shouldn’t take her side.”
I roll my eyes at my whiny stepsister. She’s always like this, pulling the attention to her as if she’s more important than everyone.
“And why shouldn’t he?” I ask, glaring at my stepsister. “He’s my dad.”
“Fiona has caused too much trouble,” Jessica says, scurrying to my father’s side and curling in close. “But me? I’ve been working hard to make you proud! I’ve made $50,000 from my small investment the other day in the XX Project and can make us even more money. When I cash out I’ll buy you that car you want, Daddy.”
“That’s great, pumpkin,” my father says, immediately forgetting about the bullying when money is mentioned. ” I’m proud of you.”
The words hit me right in the gut. I can’t remember the last time my father said something kind to me. Any time he talks to me lately, it’s about how I can do better or change. I haven’t heard him say he’s proud of me in years.
“Proud of her?” I scoff. “Dad, you shouldn’t invest in the XX Project.” The XX Project has been under scrutiny lately for possible animal endangerment.
“As if we’d take your advice,” Jessica snaps. “Daddy, I plan to invest $300,000 in the XX Project. I know this one is a good one,” she adds. Either she doesn’t care about the charges or she doesn’t know about them.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I mutter. If she doesn’t know, I won’t be the one to tell her. She can go down with her sinking ship for all I care.
“Let’s all get along. We’re family after all,” my father says, waving his hands to placate all of us.
“Family?! My husband was taken from me, my inheritance is gone, and I can’t understand how you’re okay with this,” I shout, turning to my father. “Dad, can you be my witness for court?”
He watches me with slightly confused and barely interested eyes as he shakes his head.
“Sorry, honey. I don’t know the details, and your mother didn’t leave me much, so I can’t.”
His words and the happy family mask fall away. Nothing was about me, and I realize he never meant to help.
Without another word, I turn and march up the stairs to his office. The group below laughs happily as if they weren’t just tearing my heart to shreds. Were other families unfeeling like this?
It doesn’t matter. As soon as I find the will, I’m out.
Opening the safe, I sift through the papers until I find the yellow folder at the bottom. I grab the file, shut the safe, and rush out of the office. If I move fast enough-
“What is that, Fiona?” Megan pauses, narrowing her eyes. It takes her two seconds before she’s on her feet and rushing at me. “You can’t take that!” She panics and reaches for the file, but I dodge and make for the door. –
I’m only a few steps outside when my stepmother grabs me by the arm, and she yanks me back. The file flies.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0011
through the air and hits the ground as she shoves me.
Like the file, I slam to the concrete.
pain shoots up my hands while I scramble across the ground. Before I can reach the file, her hand is pulling hair.
My scalp burns, and I cry out, raking my fingernails over her hand.
As I struggle to get my stepmother off me, a black Camaro ulls up to the house, stopping in front of it. I don’t have time to think about the car before Megan kicks me to the ground and plants her foot on my back.
I scramble forward, grab the file, and slide it beneath me to where she can’t get it. She can pull all my hair out, but she’s not touching this file.
“Get off of her!” Ethan yells, climbing out of his car.
My stepmother gasps, and suddenly, more weight is pushing me to the ground. I groan and drop my head, pushing her up to get her off me.
Then the weight is gone.
“Ethan,” I mumble and look up to find him standing above me.
Pushing myself up on my knees, I glance between Ethan and his car. There’s no way he could cover twenty feet in two seconds.
Chapter 0014
