Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“You look well.” It looks like it pains her to admit even that small compliment.
There was part of me that wondered if they would reach out to us once they got word of Darian’s success, but their pride was much bigger than their social standing, and they never did.
“Thank you.” The moment is awkward, and there’s a beat of silence. “As do you.”
My mother looks exactly the same as the day she and Dad told me they were cutting me off. They didn't mean only financially, they meant in any way they had the power to. I never landed a good job because of them, and that still burns, but nothing will ever burn more than how they treated Darian—a boy who loved me from the moment we met and was there for me in more ways than they ever were.
“I think it’s time that you and your husband came over for dinner. Sunday?” I stand there in shock because it’s a smack to the face. That was the last thing I thought would ever come out of her mouth, and I’m stunned for a moment before I shake my head.
“No.”
The one word makes her face tighten and lips purse. “People are talking.” She says this like it’s going to convince me to make amends, and I can’t help it. I laugh. “It’s not funny,” she says through clenched teeth.
“Let me guess, Mother. People wonder why you're not close to Darian? Friends are asking Dad for introductions? Am I getting this right? Am I reading through your bullshit dinner invitation correctly?”
She shakes her head at me, her face filled with disappointment. I don’t know why she thinks it will work on me. It didn't work back then when they tried to make me choose, why would it work now?
I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t wish for an apology on some level and an admission of wrongdoing. Maybe then and with time we could heal. But I know that it's the young girl in me that seeks their approval even though I know I don’t need it. It’s the part of me that let them go years ago, and though it was hard, it was the right choice.
“You think you’re better than me. You think you got out of this life and chose love, but guess what? Here you are.” She looks around the room filled with all the pretty people and things that I despised for so long. “You’re on your husband's arm like a trophy wife. You’re one of us, whether you like it or not.”
She brushes her hand over an invisible wrinkle in her gown and smiles as she walks away.
When I look into the crowd, I see Darian surrounded by people. You’re one of us. I didn't want to be one of them. I’d chosen him.
But is he choosing them?
Chapter 10
Darian
“We’d love for you to come speak at the conference next month in Switzerland.”
“That sounds like an incredible opportunity, but I’ll need to discuss it with my wife.”
“What’s to discuss?” the head of European Biometrics pushes, but I push back.
This meeting has gone on long enough, and I’ve been late every night this week. “Like I said, I’ll need to discuss it with my wife before I commit. I know you’d be disappointed if I called tomorrow and had to change my plans.”
“Of course.” His smile is tight on the video chat, and I nod before ending the call.
I sigh as I lean back in my chair and rub my eyes with the heel of my hands. God, this has been a long day and an even longer year. I thought things would begin to slow down by now, but it feels like it’s picking up at every turn.
I’ve done my part with creating the program and the software, but everyone wants more. At first it was just about pushing to get this done with my team as perfectly as possible, and it happened faster than we all anticipated. It blew up overnight, and the next thing we knew we were getting calls from world leaders and our own government. I didn’t intend for all of this to go so far, so fast, but here we are.
My phone vibrates on my desk, and I see a missed text from Amber. I swipe to see a picture of her and Allison on an island in Greece, and my heart clenches. They look so happy popping bottles and laughing, it makes me miss our Saturday night karaoke sessions with the four of us. Rosy hasn’t asked about doing that lately, but it’s not like I’ve been home enough to have that conversation.
With a heavy sigh, I text back that I hope they’re having fun spending my money, and Allison replies that Amber is doing her best to bankrupt us by summer. I laugh because that would be an impossibility.