“Oh, I knew he couldn’t resist you. I want to know everything, except the part where you two get acrobatic in bed. Spare me that, please.” She pulls a disgusted face, and now I can’t help but laugh.
“Don’t worry, THOSE details stay private. So, in about two hours at Nicolas’s?” She nods, and we hug again before she heads back to her room, and I make my way to my car.
Aside from a few staff and the guards, I don’t see anyone else. Some of them glance at me oddly, but I don’t think much of it once I’m in the car. I need to hurry before Henry heads back to Perlington House, he’s the last person I want to run into.
Honestly, I don’t want to see anyone. I just want to return to the Nicolas-and-Amelia bubble, it’s so nice there. But I know I have to face all this crap here.
Just thinking about it makes my stomach churn, and the closer I get to Perlington House, the worse it gets. I hate this place. I hate everything about this estate. Even though it looks beautiful with its white marble, thousands of flowers, and a fountain in front of the grand entrance, it’s nothing more than a filthy, deceptive façade. There is no love in this house. There never was.
Maybe that’s why I’m so affected by Nicolas’s sweet words, because he makes me feel like I’m special, at least in the moments when we’re not fighting.
I don’t park right in front of the house. Instead, I use the delivery and staff lot, in case my brother comes back early. The staff won’t rat me out, at least most of them won’t.
I slip inside and head straight to my room, quickly gathering the rest of my things. With my heart pounding, I make my way to my brother’s study, where a safe just for me holds the documents for my trust fund securely inside.
With every step, my heartbeat grows louder and faster. That room holds so many nightmares. First caused by my dad, and now by Henry.
I swallow the huge lump in my throat and step inside. My hands are cold as ice and feel sweaty. I don’t want to be here. Not in this room.
Images flash through my mind, ones I’d rather forget. Screams, my screams, ring in my ears. I see his belt, hear the whip of it, feel the force of every blow.
No.
Damn it, Amelia, pull yourself together.
I shake my head to chase the memories away and walk toward the safe. As I pass Henry’s desk, my eyes catch on a carelessly placed sheet of paper. At first I keep walking, but the official court emblem stops me in my tracks. I take a closer look.
Foreclosure?!
My heart skips a beat, and I automatically reach for the document. It’s an official court notice for the foreclosure of Perlington House.
What the hell is going on?
My heart pounds as a flood of mixed emotions hits me. On one hand, I want to celebrate that this terrible house will finally be gone, but on the other, I can’t forget it was still my home. And I desperately need to find out what Henry did to let things get this far.
“There’s the stupid bitch… who ruined my future,” slurs a threatening, all-too-familiar voice, and I whirl around. Panic claws through me like thorny vines, and I clutch the paper tightly in my hands.
My brother stands in the doorway, fists clenched, and he’s not happy to see me.
No. No. No.
Why is he here? He’s supposed to be at the palace.
My heart races out of control, and I glance around desperately, but Henry is blocking the way out. I’m trapped.
His face is a grotesque mask of rage, and I immediately notice that he’s been drinking. Heavily. His bloodshot eyes stare at me with pure hate.
What? What did I do?
“Henry… I… what are you doing here?” I stammer, stepping back as he enters the room threateningly and…
No.
He locks the door behind him.
Oh God, please no.
My body reacts instantly, trembling uncontrollably as I back up, knowing the wall is coming and there’ll be no escape.
