Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Terry narrowed his eyes. “Maybe you need a prenup. If her heart is as pure as you say, then it’ll prove she’s not a gold digger.”
“Maybe you need to shut your mouth,” Alex snarled. “Or I’ll shut it for you.”
“Stop!” I demanded, stepping away from Alex. “Stop all of this.”
They all stared at me.
“I’m not interested in his money. Alex is amazing. Talented. Warm and caring.” I shook my head. “How he ended up that way, given the lot of you, I have no idea, but he is. He must take after his real father.” I turned to his mother. “Why must you criticize him all the time? You don’t even know him! Do you realize how many awards and accolades he has won for his work on environmental issues? How incredible his designs are? How respected he is? All you care about is your image. Your world. If you knew him at all, you would realize he is exactly the son you should be shouting about. You think a name and money give you prestige? What about honor and integrity? Class and manners? Good God, lady, grow up. All you do is belittle him and nag him. Stop it!”
Then I turned to his brother. “As for you, I have read enough to know why Alex doesn’t want you in his life. Your so-called victories in court—mostly defending low-life criminals, your constant revolving door of women. You have no morals! You change law firms more often than I change my socks. No doubt before they fire you, given the stories I’ve read.” I swung my furious gaze back to Mrs. Johnstone. “And you praise him and ignore your biological son! What kind of morals does that show you have?”
I turned my venom back to Terry. “You think being in the papers and the gossip columns is what makes you a man? Alex is a hundred times the man you are. You might have your stepmother drinking the Kool-Aid, but one day, once you end up without a career, drain all your money away, and start dipping into her accounts, she is going to see you for what you are. Unless—” I snorted. “You can marry some idiot heiress who is as blind as your stepmother.” I pointed a finger between them. “You are both greedy, nasty people. Leave Alex alone. Leave us alone. You are not welcome here.”
There was a beat of silence, and Alex pulled me to his chest. “I think Magnolia has said everything that needs to be said. Leave. Don’t come back. You aren’t welcome here or at the office.”
Terry’s face was almost purple in his rage. His mother’s cheeks were flushed a deep red, her eyes almost silver with ice. “I have never been more ashamed of you,” Mrs. Johnstone hissed. “Letting her speak to us that way. I will not stand for it!”
“The truth is never pretty, Mother. Magnolia said what had to be said.”
“You will regret this.”
“I highly doubt it.” Alex stepped to the door, opening it. “Get out.”
Terry shook his head. “I hope you rot in hell.”
Alex smirked. “You first—brother,” he added sarcastically, looking pleased as Terry stomped out.
His mother stopped, glaring at me. “You caused all this.”
I laughed sardonically. “I think you’re the key factor here. And you might want to check your shoes when you get home.”
She glanced down, the detail I found so humorous sending her over the edge. “You little—” She raised her hand, and in an instant, Alex was in front of me, grabbing her wrist.
“If you dare,” he snarled, “I will have you arrested for battery.” He leaned close. “This entire encounter was videotaped, Mother, so you’ll have none of your lies to wiggle out of it. How would all your friends and upper-class associates feel about you being convicted of striking an innocent woman in her own home?”
She wrenched her hand away, glaring. “She doesn’t deserve to have the last name Bane.”
Alex regarded her somberly. “That shouldn’t bother you since you were very fast to remarry and change your name after Father died.”
“I am still associated with that name. With you. What you do reflects on me.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I have done nothing to be ashamed of. Tell me, Mother, can you or Terry say the same thing? Or your sainted husband?”
I thought she was going to strike him, except she recalled his threat and pulled back, stiffening her shoulders. “I no longer consider you my son.”
“A good day all around, then,” he replied, reopening the door. “Get out, Mrs. Johnstone. You are no longer welcome here. Not that you ever really were.”
She flounced out, and he shut the door, his shoulders dropping. He rested his forehead on the wood, a long exhale escaping.
I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to touch him. Get him to talk to me. But I wasn’t sure if he wanted that.