Page 6 of Theirs to Treasure
Gwendolyn is silent for so long that I realize she does, and further, couldn’t care less.“Mother!I caught Caro and Edward fucking.”
“Don’t be so crass!” she snaps.
I gape at my phone.“I’mcrass?”After what I saw and will be unable to forgive or forget?“You’re the one who sold me to a man who is willing to screw my sisteron my wedding day.”
“They’ve both admitted it was a mistake,” my mother fires back.
“A… What?” I caught my only sibling moaning on top of the man I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with, and my mother is excusing it?
“He’s sorry it happened.”
“Or sorry he was caught?” I demand.
“Be reasonable, Harper.”
“Mother! It was hours before my wedding,” I almost screech.
“Men are men.” With extreme annoyance, she exhales. “They can get sex on any street corner. It’s meaningless to them. Ask your father. He’ll screw any woman who’ll spread her legs.”
The news makes me reel.
My father?The overbearing asshole who has curtailed my activities and dictated every step of my life since the moment I was born.
Actually now it makes sense…if he has the morals of an alley cat.
“The only thing that matters is that your husband comes home at night and financially supports you. Tell me you’re not stupid enough to believe otherwise.”
Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but yeah, I definitely believe otherwise. What about love? Commitment?
“Are you listening to me?” my mother demands.
No.My mind is spinning. I’ve heard enough. I can’t process one more thing today.
“Our guests are arriving.”
This conversation can’t be happening.
“I insist you come back here right now.”
Momentarily I hold the phone away from my ear.
“Stop your silliness this instant. Don’t you know how much this union matters?”
“Unfortunately, I do.”
“Think bigger picture, Harper. Their little dalliance isn’t what’s important. Preserving our legacy is. You’re too old for rose-colored glasses. We brought you up better than this. If his ring isn’t on your finger as scheduled, your father and I will disown you.”
Breath leaves my lungs.
“Do you understand, Harper?”
I’m numb, but there’s no way I can do what she wants, no matter the consequences. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
Her voice drips with scorn and anger. “After all we’ve done for you.”
Rolling my eyes, I press the red button to end the call, then I turn off my phone so that no one can track my location, something I wish I’d thought about before now.
“That was brutal,” my driver observes.