The second I closed the double doors behind me, my father spun away from his position in front of the fire and broke the silence. “What the hell were you thinking, Drake?” His blue eyes wrapped in deep wrinkles glared at me.
Instead of replying, I strolled over to the drink’s cabinet, poured myself a glass, and in one swift gulp, downed the amber liquid, immediately squinting my eyes as the bitter aftertaste burned its way down my chest.
“I asked you a question.”
I turned and stared at him. My scowl was just as pronounced. “Let me remind you that I’m no longer nineteen, dad.” He opened his mouth to reply and my hand shot up. Whether the action dumbfounded him, I couldn’t tell. I didn’t care. “Sia and I are not up for discussion.”
“You bring shame to this house and you want to stand there telling me it’s not up for discussion,” he roared.
I let out a caustic laugh and he looked visibly taken aback. “You want to talk shame, dad? Let’s do.” While my words were calm, they dripped pure steel. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Angela move, putting as much distance between her and my father. She knew what was coming. “How about you,my father, allowed that woman.” I pointed to Angela. “To fuck up our family morals. Something you droned the fuck into me for pretty much my entire life.” I waited for my mother to scold me for language usage, she said nothing. “Or, thatshefucked around onyourson, had a child withyourother son, fucked his life up and all the while you,my father, allowed her to hold the Princeton name ransom. Is that enough shame for you?”
“I was trying to protect the family name,” he snorted.
“How exactly were you protecting us?” I retorted. “She threatened to go public about being married to one son while having a daughter with your other son? Even if she went public, it would’ve made her look like a bitch, nothing more. I had balls of steel, dad, you of all people knew that. I mean, had to marry the damn woman at your command.”
“Watch your tone.”
“Don’t you fucking tell me to watch my tone.” The glass flew from my hand, crashing against the wall. “I’ve dealt with your fucking bullshit long enough and because of that slut, you made me look like a fucking pussy-whipped bitch. So, don’t you dare fucking chastise me like I’m a child.” Gasps flew around the room. None of the women present had ever seen me lose my shit, nor had they expected me to take my father on. His rules had always applied. But I was fucking tired. As for the look on my father’s face, I think he would’ve probably won an Oscar for the best male stupefied expression if that title ever existed.
“How dare you—” he began, and I snapped.
“How dare I?” I bellowed. “Well, let’s see. Because I fucking played mommy to two kids, one belonging to my brother who’s only fuck knows where, while this fucking bitch had the upper hand. I was robbed of loving someone for so long because you decided to keep her around. I mean, she’s still here even after a divorce, like a fucking caricature of Mother Mary. Should I even bother asking if she warmed your bed too?” The last statement was below the belt, but my anger was too far gone to resist. I’d already lost so much today, I didn’t care.
“Are you freaking insane?” Angela neared my father. “Sleeping with Sianna has screwed—”
“I’ve never lifted a hand to a woman before, Angela, but say one more fucking word, and you’ll find out if I can,” I sneered, taking a step forward.
Her outraged gasp followed with her taking a step back. “What’s gotten into you, Drake?” my father’s tone dropped an octave.
I barked out a laugh. “Why? Because I sound like a raving lunatic? Guess you’ve never seen your son in love, have you?”
“In love?” he snapped. “How can you be in love with your son’s girlfriend? Someone, you hardly know?”
“Don’t pretend you care. It’s pathetic.” I scowled at the man and woman responsible for ruining my life. Yes, some might say I could’ve walked away. But I loved my children too much to do so.Yeah, that’s why you fucked his girlfriend.The reprimand did nothing for my numb heart. Every inch of me ached. “I gave up my entire future for the two of you, so don’t fucking make a mockery of my love when you know nothing.”
“Nonsense—”
“He loved her first, Jacob,” my mother’s unexpected shout cut my father off. All eyes turned on her.
“What?” my father asked.
“You knew, mom?” I was too shocked to comprehend anything at that moment.
Slowly, she turned to look at me. “I’m sorry, son, that I didn’t say anything sooner.”
I raked a hand through my hair, shaking my head. “How?”
Tamara stood and walked across the room to stand between us. “She asked me, Drake.” My sister rubbed my arm lightly.
“That night, I made the hot chocolate for you. The words you used, son. That she was with someone, you’d give your heart to protect. There are only two other people that fell into that category. Rayden and Kyra. For the first time since your first injury, while skateboarding, I had no idea how to help you.” My mother sighed. “Then, I sought Tamara’s advice and we both decided that you needed to make this work on your own and whatever path you chose, we’d stand by you.”
I ran both hands down my face, trying to curb the tears that had threatened since Rayden slammed out of my study.
“What is all this nonsense?” My father neared my mother.
She rolled her eyes at him. “Keep up, will you, Jacob. Drake met Sianna two years ago. He told me about her but never who she was—”
“So, you did sleep with her, then?” Angela scoffed.
