“Is it because of what happened with Scarlett? That night? You disappeared. You sold everything.”
I winced. He was spot on, and there was no denying it. Plus, Dimitri would only make my life a living hell if I didn’t divulgesomething.
My gaze found Poppy again, and this time she was knocking back a glass of champagne like it was a shot. My eyebrows jumped on my forehead.
“Feeling guilty now that you’re seeing his family up close and personal?” Dimitri smirked, and I wanted to throttle him. He had no idea. Poppy was light and laughter and brains. She was too good for ninety percent of the people in attendance here. And… and I was the reason her light was dimmed. It was all my fault, and the worst part was that I didn’t even feel a lick of remorse for it. Her father was shitty, that was that. I’d done the world a favor, as I did with everyone else I wiped clean from this planet.
Was that my purpose then? Making the world a betterplace? I could certainly tell myself that, even if it didn’t feel like it in that moment.
My teeth would be dust by the end of this party if I didn’t get out of there. I unhinged my jaw and looked over at my brother with the most bored expression I could muster. “I did them a favor.”
Chapter Thirteen
Poppy
Amelia assuredme that all funeral food was the same, no matter whether you were rich or poor, but for some reason… I didn’t think that was true. Every single meal that was brought to us was catered. I was sure the poor couldn’t afford that, but I didn’t say it out loud because I’d never been to a poor person’s funeral before and I hadn’t ever been poor. I hadn’t actually been to any funeral before either.
It was weird. The closed casket. The priest. We didn’t even go to church, but that was where my father was buried. My mother put on the water works, my sisters sobbed on her shoulders, and my brothers looked like they were ready for the inheritance that would come next. They didn’t seem even a tad bit sad. Then there was the revolving door of people that hugged and held me as if we’d known each other our entire lives—people I’d never even seen before.
Most of the Cristofs were in attendance, but not Ivan or the youngest Griffin. I didn’t know whether to be relieved orsad. It was a strange combination of both. But then there was the strange emotion that flooded everything else out—curiosity, which then brought on anger.
Why had he lied? Why had he pretended? At the bridal shower, he’d watched me; I could feel his eyes from across the room. So what was the angle?
It didn’t even matter. I would probably never see him again, though Amelia insisted we hunt him down. There was a rumor he was staying at the same hotel as us, but I didn’t know if I really cared that much.
A voice in the back of my head told me that I did, but I ignored it.
We were all seated around a large oak table in my father’s attorney’s office, waiting for the will to be read off; it was the last place I wanted to be. There was nothing in his will for me, I was sure.
My father’s lawyer finally entered the room and unbuttoned his suit coat before sitting down at the head of the table. “Good morning, everyone. I know this is an unfortunate time, but I want each of you to know that we are here for you and just a call away, if you should need us.”
My mother grinned at him as if she hadn’t just lost her husband. “Go on then.”
“Let’s begin,” He tapped the stack of papers on the table before he cleared his throat. “Mrs. Fairchild…” He trailed off as he frowned. He cleared his throat again. “Due to the prenup you signed, you are entitled to whatever is in your own name.”
I knew without looking at my mother that she had noidea what this man was talking about. I hadn’t known she’d signed a prenup.
“Excuse me?”
“Would you like a copy of it? It is notarized.”
“Well, of course,” I could practically hear her rolling her eyes.
“Let’s continue,” he sniffed and cleared his throat once again, and I found myself frowning. “To my two boys, my sons, my pride and joy, all of my business holdings and business dealings will be left to the two of you. May you continue my legacy the way it was always supposed to be run. To my oldest daughter, Jade, you may have your penthouse and your trust fund.”
“What?” My oldest sister practically shrieked. “That’s it?”
The poor attorney nodded his head slowly. “To Jane, my youngest little star, I know you were never mine, but I liked to pretend you were. Your father was a close friend of mine, and I hope you will come to find him as you grow into the woman you were always meant to be. All of the money you will be inheriting will be deposited in your trust fund. I hope it helps you live a comfortable life without worry.”
The room was spinning with each word the man read from his stack of papers. My sister was only a half sister? My father knew? We all stared at the lawyer with big eyes.
“And last but certainly not least, my darling, smart daughter Poppy. Everything else is left to you. My assets, my stocks, and all the money in my accounts. It will all be deposited into your trust fund. See theworld, find love, explore academics—whatever your heart desires, I want you to have it all. You were never meant to fit in, and I hope this helps you find everything you’ve been looking for.”
I blinked. I thought nothing was more shocking than finding my father’s dead body, but this took the cake. Were we sure this was my father’s will and not someone else’s? The room erupted around me, but I couldn’t hear a single thing. My mother was yelling something, and my sisters were crying. My brothers got everything they wanted, so they seemed perfectly fine, if not a little confused.
But me? I was spiraling all over again. If the funeral hadn’t been bad enough… This was worse. Security was quickly called, and my mother was forcibly dragged out with my sister, Jade, close behind.
I didn’t know if I could stand up, much less leave. My brothers didn’t bother with a backwards glance as they left the room. Jane and I stared at the attorney wide-eyed.
