Page 48 of Bittersweet Legacy

“It’s not-”

I raised my hand to stop him. “I honestly couldn’t care less for what is about to come out of your mouth so please just let it go and move on. I know I have,” I added before slipping into my room and locking the door behind me before he even had a chance to reply.

I settled on the bed, reaching for my mom's journal again.

When I found out that one twin was a girl, I felt both elated and terrified at the news. I was elated because I always dreamed to have a little girl, a mini-me I could dress, pamper and raise into being the strong independent woman I wished my family had raised me to be – somehow a little version of me but better, stronger and now, now I felt I was condemning this little girl to a life of misogynist rules. The more I thought about it, the more guilty I felt. I wanted to save my baby, save my little Esmeralda. I couldn’t have forgiven myself if you grew up to be nothing more than a pretty doll, an asset, a mistreated wife. I wanted you to be happy, free… free to love whoever you wanted, free to be who you wanted to be.

I closed my eyes at the pain seeping into me through these pages. I didn’t know what she sacrificed to get me to Uncle Luke but she died in the process and I would uphold her wishes. I would be free if only to honor her memory. I would fight as much as I could to be free as she’d wanted me to be.

I’d never really understood my mother’s desperation to do what she did, especially the way she did it – lying, hiding, running – but now I started to understand how stuck she felt, how hopeless. I had no choice, I had to run before graduation – I had to disappear and maybe I could use my late mother’s wisdom to do so.

The first thing I would need to get was money, which I didn’t expect to be too hard, I thought as I glanced toward all the expensive clothes in my wardrobe. But I needed help and that was the issue, the issue I expected my mother had as well. No matter what money I had, I needed someone to help me pull it off, especially when I didn't have any real contact with the outside world.

I was about to resume my reading when the maid informed me that Caleb Astor was on his way and would join me in the little salon.

“Caleb,” I grimaced in both pain and disgust as the images from Friday night resurfaced. I wanted to forget that, and I also wanted to talk with Taylor, I knew she was aware of the engagement and I couldn’t talk to her, couldn’t make sure we were okay – I wouldn’t have a chance to talk to her before tomorrow at school.

I sighed, getting off the bed and making my way quite reluctantly to the salon.

As usual Caleb Astor walked into the room as if he owned it, back as straight as a rod, chin high. This was how I pictured a king walking into a room and in some ways, Caleb was just that.

He was closely followed by a short older man who was holding a suitcase with handcuffs - one attached to the metal handle, the other around his wrist. He was flanked by two massive security guards, with jackets so tight we couldn’t miss the guns in their holsters.

“What’s this all about?” I asked, standing from my spot on the small sofa. “Do I need to get my father?” I somehow wished he would say yes.

He shook his head. “No need.” He pointed to the man behind him. “This is Mr Baker; he is the sales director for Carbonite.”

Carbonite, I remembered, was the diamond brand owned by Taylor’s family.

“OK?”

“He’s here to present you with a selection of engagement rings for you to pick from in case it needs a resize before next Saturday.”

“I see,” I sat straighter. “I appreciate the courtesy of letting me choose.”

He shrugged, pointing to the seat across from mine, a silent invitation for Mr Baker to sit and another tell that he thought this house was his. “I couldn’t care less what you pick Esmeralda, the only thing I’ll do is pay for it. You’re the one who’s going to wear it. It means nothing to me.”

Jab well received asshole, thank you. I thought, putting this information in the ‘why I need to disappear’ folder in my brain.

He joined me on the narrow loveseat, so close that his strong leg brushed against mine. “I also think you need a reminder of who you belong to and what your place is.”

It took all my willpower not to throttle him and punch him in the genitalia. Instead I looked at the man sitting across from me and I smiled, as the perfect hostess. “Thank you for coming here, would you like something to drink?”

Caleb sighed with irritation, glancing at his fancy watch. “This isn’t a social call Esmeralda, you’re not here to entertain the man, he’s paid handsomely to be here.”

The man sent me a grateful look before extending the hand toward one of the security guards who gave him a little silver key.

“I’m sorry for all the added security Miss Forbes,” he said with a kind smile, opening the suitcase and turning it toward me. “As you can see, the contents of this suitcase are highly valuable.”

As much as I wanted to look unperturbed, I couldn't help but gasp at the diamonds sparking at me.

There were about 50 rings in the case, each more opulent than the one before. Based on the size of the diamond I was quite sure they were arranged in increasing value.

In all honestly the ring that caught my eye was the first one, it was the most beautiful ring I'd ever seen. It was in what I assume was white gold – a small pink diamond surrounded protectively by a couple of angel wings. I almost reached for it but stopped myself.

No Esme, not this one.I let my eyes trail to the last ring in the box. It was a white diamond, and it was gigantic, shaped in a sort of oval… I hated it on sight.

“Could you tell me about this one?” I asked pointing at the ostentatious, ugly thing.

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