When I step inside the study room, I see Ethan and Della there waiting for me. I don’t have enough words to explain the betrayal I am feeling right now. I take a deep breath and bite my inner cheek to control myself.
I won’t cry. Not in front of them. I blink and look at dad.
“Why?” I ask him in a bitter voice.
Dad says in a soft voice, “We are family, Avery…”
I don’t throw much glances at Ethan or Della. I am sure they must be fuckin happy with each other. I
don’t need to see that shit.
“And what am I, dad?” Apparently not a family, I guess.
I am so done being polite.
“You are my Child too..” He says insistently.
I want to scoff. It doesn’t make any sense.
“She sure is… I know… This is why I left,” I say, trying hard to hide the resentment in my voice.
“No, Avery… You didn’t have to leave. I want you around. I want you two to work it out. I had a conversation with Ethan..” He sounds hesitant for a moment but says anyway, “He and Della say what you said in the media is not true… they did not get close until a few months after you left..”
Now I finally look at Ethan and raise my brow at him.
He looks stunned and pathetically leering at my body. Motherfucker…
Isn’t he getting enough sex from Della now? I cross my arms to stop the shudder.
I shake my head and say, “I still have the photographs Della sent me that day…” I drop the bombshell,
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and their eyes widen.
“What photographs?” Dad asks me.
“You don’t want to know, Dad. Believe me…” Who would like to see how much of a slut his daughter
is? I think to myself and glare at Della.
“Are you threatening me to leak those?” she snarls.
I laugh. “Oh, sweetie, if I wanted, I would have done it long ago… and I wouldn’t have declared it. Just
admit the truth.”
“Is it true?” Dad asks them angrily.
Ethan clears his throat and says, “yes..”
Я
Della gasps,
and I am stunned. When did Ethan learn to man up to own his mistakes?
Dad is livid.
“You! Oh my God! Pathetic!” Dad says in disgust.
“I am sorry…” He says to dad then looks at me. “I am sorry, Avery…” I can see Della seething in anger.
But I am confused. Why is he apologizing?
Change of heart? I don’t fuckin think so. Something is wrong. Warning bells in my head are going off.
I don’t answer him and turn to dad, “Why did you bring me here? If it was for this apology, then guess I should leave…”
I am still feeling agitated at Dad. For bringing me in front of Ethan and Della like this. When I was not prepared to see them.
“You two can leave,” Dad tells them sternly and steers me towards a chair.
“We have to present a united front in front of media,” He says and I want to roll my eyes.
Of Course it is about the business. All damn business. Not me. It’s never about me.
“We recently scored a big contract. Instead of highlighting that, the media is making fun of Ethan & Della. What they did was unforgivable but It is harmful for our Image Avery…”
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I swallow hard. Didn’t he notice how they are smearing my name, too? Calling me fat and saying I
deserved to be cheated on.
I stay quiet then dad adds. “All this belongs to you too Avery. I hope you know that. The way you have done well for your music company, I am sure you can do good for the “Thomas Collins
constructions‘ as well.”
My eyes widened.
“I don’t want to do anything with your company, Dad!”
“Don’t be childish, Avery,” he says in a stern voice and I flinch.
Fuck
Why am I acting like a little girl?
There is a party tonight and you will attend it.”
What?
I get up out of my seat and finally open my mouth.
“You never cared for me. So I don’t think I am obliged to take care of your company, Dad.”
“It’s useless to expect from her, Alfred,” Joy walks into the study and says.
“She never wanted to attend the family dinners we planned… She never wanted to be around for family tours. She wasn’t around or showed her face when you had a stroke two years ago.”
Stroke!
I look at him and ask in shock, “Dad! you had a stroke?”
“I wasn’t a big deal, Avery..”
“He couldn’t talk properly for months. We had to take care of him”
I suddenly feel ashamed. Is this why he didn’t get in touch with me?
“Joy!” Dad tells her sternly, but she doesn’t stop.
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“He was so stressed after you left. Did you even think about him?”
I want to slap her face right now.
“Was it because of me or the work?” I ask Joy..
She looks perplexed.
“Of Course you.. because you left, he had to handle all the work.”
I shake my head, half annoyed, half amused. Yeah, sure it was because the full time, highest performing employee left. I look at Dad. He sinks into his seat with a resigned expression.
“Can you please leave Joy? I need to talk to her alone. stop fucking this up.” He says in an almost
defeated voice.
I am confused how I am supposed to feel about my own dad. I am not happy that he was sick when I wasn’t around. Is this why he looks so old now? So weak.
His voice. I realize. Oh my God even his voice has changed a little. I suddenly feel guilty.
I am not at fault but I still feel guilty for not being around when he was sick… .
When Joy finally leaves, I say, “I am sorry.. I didn’t know.”
“We had to suppress the news Avery… When you left, so many board members were not happy. I was sick already.. I am sorry I didn’t tell you or anyone. So when you left…” he looks embarrassed.
“I didn’t realize you were gone for 2 weeks. Nobody told me. Nobody… When you didn’t come for the family dinner that month… I finally noticed.” He has regret in his eyes.
Ever since I moved out, Dad made sure we catch up at least once a month. Although Nikki gets a chance to dine with him every week. I ignore the resentment.
“Didn’t anybody report me missing at work? Are you saying if I would have been kidnapped or murdered for good, No one would have noticed me?”
He looks at me with anger in his eye. But his anger is not directed at me.
“My exact thoughts…” He says bitterly. “Della had taken over your work. She and Ethan said they were looking for you and didn’t want to stress me out.”
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He sighs.
“They were right about one thing. I couldn’t take the stress and had a stroke that day.”
“What Ethan and Della did to you is not fair. And believe me, I will find a way to punish them.”
I don’t believe him, but I don’t say anything.
What can he do? He has a soft heart. There is a reason Joy and Della wrap him around their fingers so easily. He is in love with both of them.
“I want you around, Avery and this party. It’s important for you to attend.”
It’s not fair. I blink and press my lips.
Я
“Okay Dad, I will attend the party. Although I cannot stay in this city. It’s a cursed place for me. Please do not expect more from me.”
Dad opens his mouth and I stop him.
“Please Dad! Please,” I plead.
“Just give it a thought. Don’t outright deny my child.”
“Okay,” I say.
Whatever I decide, I have to be damn careful about what I do. Because once again my heart is on the line. To be broken all over again by my own family.
It’s not fair. I think to myself and leave the Collins mansion with a heavy heart.
After Sleeping with My Childhood Prince, I Kicked Him Out from My World
