“This whole time,” I spat. “While you have taken every opportunity to belittle both Cooper and I,youhave been deceiving everybody. Including your son.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” his laugh was forced, his cockiness stemming from a genuine belief he could manipulate me.
“You aren’t worthy of him,” I spat, my voice ice-cold, my heart aching for the man who’d fought his entire life to be loved by this abhorrent human. Someone so unbelievably selfish, he would steal, lie and cheat his own son. Preston huffed another laugh, the condescension dripping from him as he came around from behind the desk.
“You think because you have a nice pair of tits and a ring on your finger that you know him?” His tone was cutting, his chinraised, but I wasn’t intimidated anymore. I was working on loyalty and protection for a man who deserved better. A man I would fight for every day of the week.
“I think you know that I do, and it terrifies you. Doesn’t it? Because unlike you, Preston, I won’t lie to him, and he is about to learn just how vile you really are.”
“Is that a threat?” I noted the slither of fear cross his face. The way his spine snapped taut as his brain ticked. He was calculating his options. A smart businessman first and foremost.
“Wearing a nice dress isn’t fooling anyone, Evangeline. You are beneath this family and will never be a Dane.”
“Beneath this family?” My laugh was mocking, my voice raised. “You are delusional if you truly believe that. But I don’t need to stand here and tell you how despicable I think you are, because you know what you’ve done. And now I do too. So either you can tell him, or I will.” I said, my chest heaving with anger, fear, frustration.
He looked down at me with a snarl, but I didn’t cower. I kept my chin raised, glaring back at a man who was as evil as they came.
“Listen here, bitch, you-”
“What the fuck is going on?” I turned, finding Cooper in the doorway, his mother close behind.
“Oh, son, I’m glad you’re here,” Preston started, that same arrogant tone firmly back in place. “Can you please remind Evangeline whose house she is in. It is clear she was never taught any respect or manners over in her neighbourhood.” His voice landed exactly as intended, right between the solar plexus, only instead of feeling offended, it was a drop of gasoline.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” I snapped.
“What did you just say?” The dry tone cut in from behind, and I whirled to face Cooper, certain his venom wasn’t meant for me.
“You need to learn some respect, Evangeline,” Preston added,an edge of disbelief to his words and a glint of satisfaction in his glare.
“Don’t fucking say her name,” Cooper’s voice boomed, his eyes glazed as they narrowed in on his father. And now there was no mistaking who he was talking to. I caught the shock in his father’s eyes before I turned my full attention back to my fiancé. Stepping towards him, I fought for his focus, knowing he was slipping from me.
“Don’t tell me you actually care about this money hungry whore,” Preston scoffed from behind me and even Portia had the decency to look offended.
“Look at me,” I soothed, resting a hand on Coop’s chest in an effort to halt his rage.
“Cooper, you better shut her-” his voice edged closer, and when Cooper wrapped an arm around my waist pulling me into him, I knew if I turned, Preston would have been right there.
“Touch her and you’ll regret it.” His voice was colder than I’d ever heard, void of any warmth. The laughter and light he saved for those who mattered, extinguished, his face expressionless. This was the same Cooper I saw at that club all those months ago. The one who was far from controlled.
“Oh, come on honey, this is ridiculous. You barely know her,” Portia tried, but even I could hear the tremor in her voice. The edge that told me she knew they were on a slippery slope and was digging those perfectly manicured nails into anything she could to avoid the fall.
“Are you going to let thisthingcome between our family?” Preston seethed, and I tapped my fingers against Cooper’s chest.
“I’m here,” I whispered against his skin. “I’m okay,” I promised.
“This thing,” Cooper mocked his father’s tone sardonically, his grip around my waist tightening as the other hand came up to hold me to his chest, “Is the woman I love, so I’d be very fucking careful when choosing your next words.”
“Love?” Preston scoffed, as if the thought wasridiculous. “Trust me, son, this isn’t love.” The condescension whipped through me and the venom was spewing before I had a chance to stop it. I spun, remaining in his arms, but turning my attention elsewhere.
“You have no right to call yourselves parents. Especially of someone as incredible as Cooper. You, and you,” I said, turning to a clearly stunned Portia, “should be ashamed of yourselves. You don’t evenknowthe man you keep calling son. You don’t actually deserve to know him. And Preston,” I sneered, knowing I probably looked manic, “even someone like me, ‘a money hungry whore from Moorway,’ can see how fucking amazing this man is. Howdespiteyou both, he is full of love and light and has created a hugely successful business. Despite-you-both.” I emphasised, into the otherwise silent room. “You two are the problem here, which means it is up to you to find the solution.” My chest was heaving, my mind racing.
“Now if you’ll excuse me,” I said, stepping out of Cooper’s embrace, and delicately brushing my fingers against his hand in an act of solidarity, “I am done here.”
I fled as quickly as I could. Away from my brother and our friends, away from the man I loved, away from the fallout of whatever the fuck that was because I had somewhere I needed to be. And it couldn’t wait.
“Xavi, you there?” I asked as soon as he answered my call, his whispered acknowledgment unnerving.
“I’m here,” He whispered.
