Page 34 of Under Their Protection

“Oh yeah?” Harper says. “Her next of kin has every right to file those papers against her. Her rage issues put her and the people around her in danger.”

“Who is my next of kin, Harper?” I ask. Rowan looks at the folder in Emma’s hand and laughs when he sees where this is headed.

“What the fuck are you laughing at?” Isaac turns and asks him.

“You’ll see,” Rowan says simply as he and Max come to stand on either side of me. Mia stands with Quinn.

“What the fuck is going on?” Isaac growls at me. I look at Emma and she hands me the folder.

“They can have this copy,” she tells me, smiling. I open it and smile at the paper before shutting it back.

“So, here is the truth. I was with Rowan and Max tonight. I know it’s confusing hearing a woman come, considering you don’t know how to make a woman come,” I say.

“You fucking bitch,” Isaac says as he steps forward and gets into my face. Quinn immediately steps up but I stop him.

“Hold on. He knows better than to lay a hand on me again, don’t you, Isaac?” I say.

“I swear to God, I can’t wait for you to be committed. Maybe then I’ll come visit you while you are all strapped up in that straight jacket. Then we will see how loud I can make you scream,” he threatens.

“You know that’s not a thing, right? They don’t just tie your arms up and throw you in your own personal padded room,” I say. “Also, Emma is right. I’m not getting committed.”

“Mom and Dad are filing the paperwork Monday,” Harper says as she grabs Isaac’s arm and pulls him back from me.

“They do not legally have the right,” I say.

“Yes, they do. Unless you are…” she stops her words abruptly.

“Unless I am what, Harper?” I ask. “Say it.”

“Youbitch,” she growls and steps forward toward me.

“Say it,” I scream at her. “Say the fucking words, Harper.”

“Do you realize what you’ve done?” she screams at me. Isaac pulls her back.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” Isaac barks. I hand him the folder and Rowan wraps his arms around my waist.

“My next of kin is Rowan. I am not consenting to surgery. I am not being committed. I am not doing anything for you ever again. I won't even come to your funeral when you inevitably die of kidney failure,” I say.

“I am your sister!” she screams and lunges at me. Isaac catches her before she gets to me and pulls her back.

“You are not my sister. She is my sister,” I scream back at her and point to Mia. “She has been there for me through everything. She is the one who picked up my broken pieces and made me whole again. She is the one who drops everything every time I need her. If she ever needs a kidney, I’d happily give her one. I would lay down my life for her any day of the week because she deserves my compassion. You deserve nothing.”

“We will be contesting this marriage,” Isaac growls.

“On what grounds?” I laugh. “We’ve known each other for eight years. We spend more time together than apart. We live in the same house and sleep in the same bed.Clearly, we have sex. Tell me… on what grounds would it be seen as fake?” I ask. “You, yourself, have said over and over that you suspected that Rowan and I were in a relationship. I have dozens upon dozens of texts stating that.”

“You are a selfish bitch,” Harper screams at me.

“Yeah, well now I’m a free bitch too,” I snap.

“He will never love someone like you. Neither of them,” Isaac barks.

“I don’t need love if they just keep fucking me like they did tonight. You on the other hand need love in your life because youdefinitelycannot fuck like that,” I say.

“You two are no longer welcome on my property. If I or any of my staff see you on my property, then you will be arrested for criminal trespassing,” Emma says before turning to me. “You guys get out of here. Mia and I will see you guys before you guys fly out.”

“Okay. Thank you,” I smile and turn to Mia, who is teary-eyed.

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