Page 86 of Bittersweet Legacy

I knew that our dinner tonight, the reminiscence of mom’s cooking had to have affected him as much as it affected me and he was either keeping me at arm's length again or maybe he thought it had been too much for me and was giving me space.

I felt a little defeated when I returned to my room but I decided to talk to Taylor tomorrow, tell her my plans had changed – maybe she could help me come up with another solution to my current situation.

When I went to bed that night, I kept staring at the ceiling not able to find sleep. I’d spent the last few weeks working toward my escape, almost everything I did or said was through the optics of leaving. What now? I’d have a lot of consequences to face and one of them was my shared intimacy with Caleb Astor.

Chapter 20

I didn’t know when I’d fallen asleep, but I was startled awake by my brother shaking me.

“What?” I sat up quickly, head-butting him in the process.

He stepped back with a groan of pain.

“What?” I asked again, resting my hand on my sore forehead, looking around the dark room. “What time is it? What’s happening?”

He turned on the desk lamp. Even in the dim light, I didn’t miss the worry etched on his brow, his stiff shoulders.

I stood up, reaching for him. “Archie, what’s happening?” I asked glancing at the clock. It was only 4am, this wasn't a courtesy call. Did Caleb repudiate our engagement already? Was my father on his way to kill me? I expected Caleb would wait a few days, torture me a bit more, maybe try blackmail – I thought I had time.

“Father got a call from his Swiss bank, apparently there was some unauthorized access on several accounts and all the assets he has in the bank have been frozen. “We’re talking billions here, Esme.”

Esme…My heart warmed at the usage of my name, but it was not the time. “Okay…”

“So you see, he is required to go to Switzerland now in person to validate his accounts, increase security and release his assets. He is getting a plane from Washington right now and we’re leaving in the next couple of hours and I managed to convince him to take Caleb too, you know… future son-in-law and all.”

I shook my head. Either my sleepy brain was playing tricks on me or I was dreaming.

“Do you need me to do something?”

“I need you to run away.”

“What?”

“I heard your conversation with Luke,” He shook his head. “You’re not as stealthy as you think you are. From the moment you stopped rebelling and started to comply, I knew you had ulterior motives.”

I paled at how transparent I’d been. Did my father suspect? Was he waiting to strike?

“Don’t worry, father is too caught up in his ego and own self-importance to suspect anything. For him, it’s normal for people to bow to his will.”

“So, how did you…?” I stopped, not sure it was not a trap, was he recording this?

He looked saddened by my wariness. “I know I messed up; I know you’ve got no reason to trust me but we’re more alike than you might think. I couldn’t care less about being Father’s favorite – I need his approval to get what I want. You want freedom where I want power – power that I’ve gathered enough of to grant you that freedom you seek.”

“How?”

“The only variable will be Caleb, though.” He continued as if I hadn’t interrupted him. “He won’t take lightly being stuck in an engagement without a fiancée. His search will be relentless.”

I shook my head. “No, don’t worry, I already thought of that and I gave him his freedom back.”

“What do you mean by that?”

I blushed deeply at the implications and wrapped my arms around myself.

“How did you give him back his freedom? Esme, what –” The blood drained from his face. “Esme, no you didn’t.”

I shrugged, looking away again. “I did what I had to do, it’s fine.”

“No, no it’s not fine.” He walked towards me and stroked my arms gently, eyes full of concern. “I’m so sorry, Esme, so sorry.”

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