Page 128 of Bitter Confessions

Cecil eyed Roth as if he were a pile of smelly trash. “You don’t belong here,” he snarled.

Colette stretched out a hand toward him. “Grandfather, please...”

Cecil smacked Colette’s hand away. The sound was sharp, shocking, and loud. Even as she let out an angry hiss, Roth swiftly yanked her behind him and invaded Cecil’s space, causing the older man to stumble back. Roth gave no quarter, backing him into the corner Colette had been in a minute earlier.

“I’ve been trying to ignore you, because you’re not worth my time,” Roth stated in a tone that was almost bored. “Your attempts to start rumors and have me investigated were annoying, but what should I expect from a man who’s done that all his life to get ahead?”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!” Cecil blustered as his eyes darted to the left and right to see if anyone was within earshot.

“You should have taken lessons from Maximus. He tripled his father’s fortune, while you struggled to maintain yours. He was also more effective at getting rid of rivals and manipulating the market than you.”

“You...”

Cecil was so infuriated he couldn’t speak. In contrast, Roth’s tone was cool and indifferent as he cornered a man who’d once dominated gatherings like this.

“None of your heirs aside from Colette have a chance in hell of running your corporation. You knew that and didn’t want her attention divided into two places, so you tried to destroy Hennessy & Co.” Roth lowered his voice, so Jasmine had to lean forward to catch his words. “Your attempt to sway the board into replacing Colette and Ariana was sloppy. Nothing happens without my approval. If you haven’t figured out yet that your reign is over, maybe I should prove it to you. How about I tear your organization apart so you can experience something novel—what it’s like to be destitute before you die?”

Estelle stepped up to Roth’s side. “We aren’t here to make enemies.”

Roth turned his head and fixed his chilling gaze on Estelle. He didn’t speak for so long that Estelle took a wary step back.

“You know your father better than anyone. How destructive he is, and how he’s ruled by hatred and resentment rather than sound reason. If you want to pass on any sort of legacy, I suggest you take control or allow Colette to, because I’m done playing games.”

With that, Roth turned away. He wrapped an arm around Jasmine’s waist to lead her away.

Behind them, Colette began, “I?—”

Roth looked back and barked, “Colette,” in a tone that made several people jump. When her sister looked at him, he said, “It’s done. Walk away.”

When Colette realized they’d gained everyone’s avid attention, she gave Roth a regal nod and left without another word to her mother and grandfather.

When Roth gripped Jasmine’s arm in the same place Tucker had, she squirmed. “I didn’t?—”

“Don’t.”

His brusque tone made her wince. If she hadn’t deduced he was pissed from his voice or his grip, his rapid stride, which had people scrambling to get out of his way, told her so.

He didn’t make his way back to Christoph but instead ushered her down a corridor off the ballroom. It was lit with glowing wall sconces and lined with tiny benches so people could sit and admire the statues, vases, and artwork dramatically lit in custom cutouts in the wall. They passed a tiny crowd in front of the bathroom, a couple admiring a painting, and continued to the end of the hallway, where he thrust open a door. She glimpsed high ceilings, a roaring fire, and towering bookshelves before Roth backed her against a wall and leaned in.

“I thought I told you I wanted to get through the night without a fucking scene.”

“He—” she began hotly but fell silent when he pounded the wall with his fist.

“I had plans for him,” he said, eyes seething. “Plans I now have to discard because you forced me to play my hand.” He shoved himself away from her and ran a hand through his hair. “You have no fucking clue what’s at stake.”

“Why don’t you tell me?”

He stiffened at the quiet challenge, hands balling into fists at his sides as he glared at her. “I have my share of enemies, but saving Hennessy & Co. means I’ve taken on your father’s as well. The feud I had with Maximus was child’s play compared to what’s happening now. The only way out of this is through alliances, which you jeopardized by pulling that stupid stunt.”

“You didn’t have to follow me!”

He cocked his head. “And how would it look if I continued conducting business while my wife got into a shouting match with her half-sister’s grandfather?”

Convicted but unwilling to give in completely, she demanded, “Why didn’t you tell me Cecil was investigating you?”

“What difference would it have made if you’d known?”

She slumped against the wall in defeat, acknowledging all she could have done was fret and pester him about it. “I’m sorry.”

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