“I didn’t think you’d want to see me.”
“Then why the change of heart?”
“I … uh … I read about you. There was an article online about the work you’ve done for Ardnoch Estate. About how successful you’ve become. Cybersecurity. I always knew you’d do well.”
“And you … wanted to come congratulate me?”
She flinched at the sneer in my voice.
“I … uh … I wanted to know what happened to the cottage. My mum’s house.”
Cold shivered through me and then a splintering pain scored across my upper torso. I didn’t know it was possible for this woman to hurt me any more than she had.
But here she was. Doing just that.
“You want the cottage.”
She swallowed hard. “I … my wife, Jay, has a daughter from her previous marriage. We want to give her a good life, and finances are a bit tight right now.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I whispered hoarsely.
“Fyfe—”
“Since I was three years old, you left me in that house on my own.”
Her eyes filled with tears, but I felt nothing but resentment and anger toward her.
“Deirdra next door fed me more times than not because you fucking forgot to. And from age twelve on, I paid the bills from the money I made online. Do you know the debt that was on that house for missed council tax payments? Do you know what that amounted to? AndIpaid that debt off. My solicitors attempted to find you and could not.”
“I … I changed my name.”
“When? My solicitors couldn’t find you.”
“I—”
“Never mind. The house belongs to me. It’s now a holiday rental and source of income. And there’s nothing you can do about it. It’s called a Benjamin order. When we couldn’t locate you, your mother’s estate went to me. Now you can fight me in court for your share, but you’ll have a helluva time convincing a judge to give you back that house.” I took spiteful satisfaction in the way she paled.
“Fyfe …” She gestured around. “Look at all you have. What do you need the extra money for?”
“I don’t. The cottage is a reminder of all the valuable lessons you’ve taught me about independence.” I took a step toward her. “How dare you come here asking me for money for your new family after you neglected, abused, stole from, and abandoned me.”
“I was a different person then!”
I stayed calm, even though the rage threatened to choke me alive. “Really? Because you still seem like the same self-centered narcissist I remember. Only you don’t have the excuse of being drunk. Fuck off, Innes.” My tone was calm as I used her first name. “And don’t ever darken my doorstep again.”
She lifted her chin, eyes flashing. “I’ll take you to court.”
“You do that,” I called her bluff. She wouldn’t want her past dragged out through the courts for all to see. All her sins laid bare.
Innes’s expression fell. “I didn’t mean to hurt you by coming here.”
“Maybe not. But you’re intelligent. You knew it could happen. You cared more about getting what you wanted than you cared about my feelings. Nothing new there. I expect nothing less from you.”
“Fyfe, please?—”
“Get out of my house and get the fuck out of Ardnoch. I won’t ask again.”
She burst into tears and whirled, hurrying from me.
