Page 9 of Endgame

‘Can we move you into the main house?’ Selene offers.

‘No thank you, I’d rather just go.’

‘And I’m going with her,’ Dominic states.

‘Nooo, Dom! You just got here!’ Selene protests with a trembling lip.

‘Dominic, please stay. I’ll be all right, I fly out tomorrow?—’

There’s another knock on the door. Dominic goes to answer it as a distressed Selene sits beside me on the bed. To my surprise, his father walks in.

‘Ariella, how are you feeling?’ he asks.

‘I’m much better, thank you.’ I can’t wait till my car arrives. It’s getting a little crowded in the cottage.

‘She’s leaving and Dominic is going with her!’ Selene tearfully tells Dominic’s father.

‘Why are you leaving us so soon, dear?’ he asks.

I can’t bring myself to tell him about his son’s horrific words.

‘Maximilian crossed a line and she doesn’t feel safe with him around,’ Dominic explains. ‘He said?—’

‘Please, Dominic…I can’t hear it again,’ I beg as I try to hold back a sniffle. When Dominic’s father leans his ear in, Dominic whispers it and I watch his father’s eyes bulge in horror.

Without another word, Dominic’s father grabs the walkie on his hip. ‘You, my dear, are not going anywhere. MrsThompson!’ he barks into his handset.

‘Yes, sir,’ she immediately responds.

‘Have you ordered Miss Mason’s taxi?’

‘Yes, sir. It will be here in under fifteen minutes.’

‘Good. I want you to clear out Maximilian’s family’s cottage. Put him, his family and their belongings into it, and send them into town.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘They are not to set foot on the premises, for any reason, until Miss Mason has left tomorrow.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘And they are no longer to reside on this property until further notice.’

‘Yes, sir.’

Dominic’s father clips his walkie back on his hip. ‘I will not stand for such obscene behaviour. You are our guest, and please know that you have my sincere apologies.’

‘What shall we do about the anniversary dinner tonight?’ Selene asks.

‘Selene, Maximilian and his family will not set foot on this property until Ariella has left, so they will be excluded from dinner. When he is allowed to return, we will have to have a serious conversation about his future as a member of this family.’

Dominic’s father turns to his son.

‘Stay with her until Maximilian is off the property.’

Then his wife.

‘Come on, Selene. Let the staff deal with Maximilian. He cannot pull on your heartstrings if you’re not there.’

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