Page 76 of Bittersweet Legacy

I nodded. “Yes in the few months I’ve spent here I’ve started to realise how powerful my genitor is, how untouchable.”

James Astor seemed to have been in love with my mother, so in love it was borderline obsession, and yet he betrayed her. Why? What did he have to gain in all of this?

“It’s Okay, Dad, there is no point dwelling on this.”

“No there isn’t – I can’t stay much longer baby. it’s getting risky. but just know I’m looking at getting you out of there, I have contacts – friends. I’m not letting you marry him.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me, baby, this is a father’s role and you might not be genetically my daughter, but you are in my heart. I love you and I will get you out of there. I’m getting out of rehab in two days. I’ll get a burner as soon as I get out and we can discuss more, OK? Wednesday, 9pm again?”

“Yes. I love you, dad.”

“I love you too, Esme, so much.”

The line went dead and I couldn't help but smile as I turned off the shower and hugged the phone against my chest.

I knew it was irrational, but when Luke said he was going to get me out I believed it. When he said he was going to save me, I knew he would.

I wouldn’t have to keep up this charade for much longer, I would be Esme Danvers again soon, but I couldn’t help the little longing in my heart when I realized I would miss Tay’s cheeriness, my brother and, God forbid, Caleb’s kisses.

Now what I had to do is pretend to be a little more and listen to my mother’s advice and try to gather as many secrets as I could.

Chapter 17

Money and information - Money to disappear, information to blackmail some assistance or simply keep people at bay.

My heart hammered in my chest as I entered Archie’s room. It was not something I would have ever done, invading someone’s privacy, but after what I saw at that party, what Caleb told me, I couldn’t subject myself to a whole life of misery. I had to succeed where my mom failed, and for that, I needed money.

I wanted to believe I could find a middle ground here, maybe not as happy as Taylor’s family but also not as miserable as my family – the problem was that no matter the glimpse of goodness I could see in Caleb, I’d witnessed a lot of bad too – too much – and I couldn’t gamble with my life.

My brother would never love me, however much I wanted to believe otherwise, however much I tried to read things in him that clearly weren't there. I had to make my peace with him and love him from afar. Could you even experience unrequited sibling love? I never thought it was a thing, and yet…

I looked around my brother’s room with a weary sigh. It was just as clinically organised as his robotic, hateful personality.

His bed was made to perfection, almost in a military way, his desk was bare except for a chromatic desk lamp and his MacBook.

I contemplated trying the computer for a minute but shook my head. My brother was anything but stupid. I would lose valuable time trying to hack something that was far above my abilities.

His walls were bare except for anIn-Deo Speramusposter, which I came to learn was the Brown University motto – the university Archie planned to attend… Well, ‘planned’ was not the word, ‘expected’ was more like it. Six generations of Forbeses had gone there, so Archie didn’t have much say in the matter.

There was no personality in this room, nothing making it what a bedroom should be. Hell, I’d been here four months with every intention to run as soon as I could and even my room had more personality.

Where would he hide anything personal? Anything I could hold against him? I hated the idea of causing harm, but I knew he wouldn’t think twice about destroying me. I needed leverage, leverage I hoped I wouldn’t need to use.

I glanced at my watch, I had about an hour before he finished his stupid Legacy meeting. I rolled my eyes seriously, I felt like I was in the Skulls.

I thought about all the stupid TV shows I’d watched growing up and where teenage boys hide their secrets.

I fell on my knees and looked under his bed, again I was not even surprised to find it bare without even a stray dust bunny.

That boy was a robot. I lifted his mattress to find, surprise… nothing, not even a porn magazine. I crinkled my nose at the thought – I’d already seen too much at that stupid party.

I opened his nightstand drawer. “Urgh!” I slammed it shut, condoms and lube. Yeah, he was a boy, alright.

I entered his walk-in closet, which was bigger than our living room back home, and couldn’t help but gasp. Everything was organized by colours and styles. Polo shirts and Henleys were on shelves covering one full wall, in so many colours that it looked like a Ralph Lauren store. On the other side were all his suits and dress shirts, followed by his ties and shoes.

In the middle of the room there was a wooden and glass cabinet containing watches and cufflinks. Seriously, how old was he? 18 or 38?

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