Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
She grimaced, wincing as if in pain. “But you were right that I didn’t have to go this far away. Where …” Her mouth trembled as her eyes turned glassy. “Where you couldn’t follow me.”
I hurried to her, gripping her hands as my tears spilled free. “I am not your responsibility. You get to go wherever you want. To make a life where you want. I do not get to make you feel bad about that and … that’s why I’ve been avoiding you. Because I’m ashamed. I’m ashamed that I’m so selfish, Ari.”
“It’s not selfish to need someone.”
I sobbed for the second time that day. “I’m sorry for putting that on you.”
“Allegra.” She tugged me closer, dipping her head to meet my eyes. “Since you were fifteen years old, I have been plagued with worry that something happened I don’t know about. I thought … I thought it was something outside our family, but the last few years …” Her grip was almost painful. “You seem so bitter toward our parents.”
The question hung between us, and panic tightened my chest. “They … they just … they’ve never been there for me, Ari. Not like you.” I pulled out of her embrace, hating the lies that sat between us but knowing they were necessary. “You know they’ve never been to one of my shows. I doubt they’ve even seen my artwork outside of what you have here on the estate.”
“Well, that’s not true. About the artwork, I mean. Dad just asked me the other week if you had any pieces for sale. He wants something for the New York apartment. Though why he can’t just call you and ask, I don’t know. Maybe because you never answer his calls.”
“What calls?” I scoffed, backing away. “The only time Dad and I ever see each other is on the forced family video calls.”
“Forced?” She scowled.
I shrugged, turning away so she couldn’t see my resentment. “Anyway, you and I are good now, right? Because that’s all that matters to me.”
“You know what matters to me? You. Your happiness. I’m worried about this situation with you and Jared. I know you’re a grown-up, but—”
“Ari,” I cut her off, my expression falling. “I don’t want to lie to you, so please don’t make me.”
Fear darkened her gaze. “This could get you into so much trouble.”
I was optimistically starting to believe she was wrong. “It won’t. I’ve filled out all the forms for citizenship and uploaded all necessary documents. I have an appointment in Aberdeen next week to do all the biometric stuff. And that’s it. They’ll give me a decision within six months. It’s all going to be fine.”
“I’m not talking about that … Ally … I see the way you look at him. How you’ve always looked at him.”
Anxiety knotted my gut. “Ari—”
“I don’t want him to hurt you when this is … when it’s done.”
It took a great deal of acting, but I managed an insouciant shrug. “The key is to never give anyone too much power over you. Not even my husband. Jared can’t hurt me.”
My sister winced. “No matter how your marriage came about, I assure you, the one person in the world who has the power to hurt you more than anyone is your husband. That’s why your choice of husband was always going to be one of the most important choices you’d ever make.”
Fifteen
Jared
My fields were grateful for the break in the weather. It had rained for two days straight, and the skies were dark and overcast as I drove Allegra to Sloane and Walker Ironside’s home. I knew the couple fairly well as I’d been drawn into a friendship with them through Sarah. It was hard to believe the cousin who’d been so shy she barely had any friends was now in a book club with the wives of the family who owned most of Ardnoch.
None of the Adairs would be at this dinner tonight. Sloane had assured Allegra that it was just us.
A tense silence existed between Allegra and me as we pulled up outside the bungalow in the quiet cul-de-sac. Everyone knew, because it had been all over the news at the time, that Sloane Ironside had inherited a fortune from her dad. It made the news because her stepmum had hired Sloane’s ex-boyfriend to kill her so she’d inherit instead.
Yet, she’d moved into Walker’s unremarkable bungalow when they married. It wasn’t so unremarkable inside, but still, I liked her choice. She knew what really mattered in life, despite her privileged upbringing. The thought made me glance at Allegra as we got out of the car. Allegra didn’t seem to be missing the luxury of her family’s beach house, but I wouldn’t know for certain. We’d barely spoken in days.
My doing.
After the way I’d reacted to her coming home late, I knew I needed to put even more distance between us. To make matters worse, my father had called me, but I hung up at the sound of his voice. He sent a text before I could block him.