Page 90 of King

The officer looks at them both then back at me before he nods. “I’ll see you all at the station.”

Eric escorts them out, a breath finally escaping my lips. I’m about to run upstairs and check on Willow but Eric stops me. Nancy waves him off and he walks towards his office.

“Jo,” she says, straightening her silk nightgown. “Your recent actions will draw too much negative attention to Eric and our business. It might prove hard to have you around after all. Now I know this affects your sister because you can’t be without her so—”

“You’re kicking us out?”

“Eric and I will discuss whether we can continue with the foster program. If we're not able to, you’ll both return to Glendale Grove. We’ve helped you as much as we can.”

“Great.” I turn around, lump in my throat as I storm up the stairs. “Thanks for the help. Glad I can be of service.”

When I get upstairs, Willow's on my bed, knees to her chest. She has an oversized Gucci t-shirt on and I'm too relieved to see that she's okay to ask where she got it. When she sees me, her body relaxes. Crawling into bed with her, she wraps her arms around me, squeezing tight.

“Is everything okay?” she asks. Her voice sounds muffled against my shirt but it's that scared, quiet voice I haven't heard in a while.

I nod, pulling her close. “It will be.”

Damien King has to fix this.

He owes me that much.

The Archibalds are on the verge of kicking me out, including Willow, if I don’t do something about it.

She’s asleep, so I climb down the window solo and use my phone to call an Uber.

It feels like no time before I pull up to the mansion. The gate is open so I instruct the driver to drive straight in before I’m facing the King’s door once again.

I head straight to the front door and ring the bell, a round lady answering. I ask for Damien and she nods, bringing me into the foyer and telling me to wait there.

Without a bunch of students sitting around, the place looks much more lavish than I remember. I pace back and forth, my boots thudding against the marble, trying to figure out what the fuck I’m going to say.

“Miss Rowland,” that familiar stern voice makes me stop in my path. “How nice to see you again.”

I turn around to see Sebastien King looking down at me, arms crossed. At that moment, Damien comes down the stairs in a pair of black joggers, chest and abs on display. But his expression doesn’t change and I can’t read him.

“What are you doing here?” Damien asks.

Sebastien straightens his black tie, looking at his son. “I was about to ask you the same question.”

“Can we talk?” Looking at Damien in those multi-coloured eyes makes my heart patter. It's like my body forgets all the damage he brings when I look at him.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Damien says.

"You know that's not true." My eyes narrow, trying to find the boy I left back in that room.

“Should I leave you two alone?” Sebastien asks.

“No.” Damien glances at his dad. “I have nothing to say to this trash from The Grove. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have important things to attend to. Isobel can escort you out.”

I’m speechless as I watch him walk away, his dad staring at me. “Is there anything else we can do for you?”

“No," my voice shakes when I respond. “That’s the only answer I need.”

I turn around and exit the way I came. I’m heading back to the Archibald mansion but only for a second. If no one’s going to help me, I’m going to have to help myself.

At this point, I’m only an anchor to Willow, and not in a good way. I'm holding her back. She can do better on her own and for that, I know what I have to do.

I have to leave Eden Gardens for good.

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