Page 78 of Ignacio

“I’m not. I’m dealing with the remnants of what happened even now. I’m going to be better because he’s gone, but for the longest time, I felt alone because of what happened to me.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Vivian asked.

Edward’s eyes pleaded with her not to say, but Delta was beyond caring. The truth needed to come out.

“When I was sixteen, Mom and Dad left me alone with Leo Hargrove for a weekend so he could do whatever he wanted.”

“That’s not why we left you there! He was supposed to help you,” Edward said.

Her sister’s eyes widened in horror. “D, what do you mean? Are you saying…?”

Delta nodded. “Yeah,” she said in a thick voice.

Vivian stared at her father, then her mother, whose head was bent in shame, and then back at her father again. “Is this a joke? What’s going on right now?”

“It’s not a joke.” Delta used her napkin to dab at the single tear that streamed out the corner of her right eye.

Edward lifted his watery eyes to Delta. “If you needed help, you could have gone back to the treatment center.”

“I shouldn’t have needed a goddamn treatment center in the first place. Don’t you understand that?”

“We had a lot of bills. Your sister?—”

“Don’t you dare bring Viv into this!” Delta snapped.

“All right, you’re clearly upset,” Edward said in a placating voice. “We should probably discuss this in private. Why don’t we table this conversation until later?”

“We’re not going to table anything, we’re not delaying the conversation, and we’re not going anywhere else to talk. I came here for a very specific reason today, to tell you that I’m done. All my life, I’ve done things your way, and I’m ready to do things my way.”

“What does that mean?” Her mother’s voice was a jarring surprise as she joined the conversation.

“It means, Mom, that I no longer want Dad to be my manager. I’ve consulted an attorney, and I’m hereby giving you verbal notice that I’m ending our work relationship. A more formal dissolution of our arrangement will come later.” Edward opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. “If you try to fight me, I will leak what you allowed to happen.”

She was bluffing, but he didn’t know that and quickly shut his mouth. She knew him so well, she wasn’t the least bit surprised he was about to make an argument in an effort to remain her manager.

“Mom, your advisory role is also terminated. I’ll work up a severance package for both of you. You’re smart people. I’m sure you can figure out how to make the money last. I’m also selling the house, and I’m permanently moving in with Ignacio, which means you’ll have to leave here at some point.”

“Delta, we’re your family. Your parents,” her mother said.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly past her lips. When she opened her eyes again, she looked directly across the table at her sister and smiled.

“Viv, I want you to come with me. I talked to Ignacio about it this morning, and we want you to live with us.”

“Are you sure?” Vivian asked, sounding surprised.

“Yes, I’m sure. We both are.”

“Somehow, this man has convinced you to turn your back on your family and risk tanking your career. You need guidance. This is what I was afraid of when you were younger. He has too much influence over you,” Edward said.

“No,youhad too much influence over me, and that ends today. We’re still family, but you will no longer be a part of my business and use it to run my life.” Delta pushed back her chair. “My lawyer will be in touch.”

She headed toward the door, abruptly stopped, and returned to the table. She picked up the half-eaten roll, slathered it with butter, and stuffed it in her mouth while locking eyes with her father.

She caught Vivian’s proud smile before she stalked out of the dining room, feeling as if she had conquered the world.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

As Delta stirred beneath the thick duvet, sunlight streamed through the window and cast a golden glow over the room. She was in bed alone on Christmas morning. Ignacio had probably gone on his morning run, which he rarely missed. His discipline was admirable.

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