Page 52 of After Midnight

I’m not sure why I said that last bit. I guess I’d always thought she somehow contributed to my father’s suicide, but I’d never had the nerve to say it. It went without saying she’d only been with Papa Eric for his money, and she probably thought she’d receive some sort of big payout from his estate after he passed. Then my trust fund safeguards threw a wrench into that free ride. Whatever role she did or didn’t play in my papa’s passing, the fact remained that she’d never mourned the man, assuming she was even capable of such feelings.

“Margarette, you no longer have any hold over me. I’m not yours to control, bully, or be made to feel like your own personal servant. If you lay a hand on me or speak to me again, you’ll be hearing from my attorney.”

With that, I turned and only then noticed the entire party had ceased and everyone was watching us. When I saw Dillon standing with mouth his agape in front of his two panic-stricken fathers, my heart sank. Margarette had succeeded in ruining even this, my otherwise magical night. “I don’t belong here,” I whispered to Dillon as I dashed past him, through the crowd, and out the front door.

I heard him calling my name, along with the clock chiming in the hallway, but I didn’t slow down. I zigzagged my way down the streets of Dillon’s neighborhood, hoping to throw him off if he tried following me, and finally called for an Uber to pick me up. Thankfully, Miss Rita wasn’t at the house when I returned home. I’d been so happy when I left here with Dillon hoursearlier, even likening myself to Cinderella on her way to the ball. Now, I laughed bitterly at the comparison. Unlike her, I didn’t leave a glass slipper behind at the palace when the clock struck midnight. I didn’t leave anything but the last shreds of my dignity and any hope that I might find happiness with my prince.

Chapter twenty-two

Dillon

Icouldn’t reach Dominic. My repeated texts and calls went unanswered, as did the front door when I’d stopped by his house the day after the gala.

“If we knew what that conniving woman had been planning, confronting one of our guests like that, let alone Dominic, we wouldn’t have let her set foot in this house,” Papa K said in disgust.

I wanted to rant and rage at what happened, too, but it’d only get me more riled up. It wouldn’t improve the situation, or get Dominic to pick up his damn phone. “I knew his stepmother was a nasty piece of work, but she’s next-level evil.” I reached over and rubbed my papa’s shoulder. “It isn’t your fault, Papa K. Until the party, none of us put two and two together about her being Dominic’s stepmother. Besides, you invited Mr. Miller, not her. He chose to bring her as his plus-one, not that he deserves any blame for this mess, either.”

“I’m sure I’ll be speaking with Mr. Miller about all of this later,” he said, still scowling. “Meanwhile, is Dominic doing okay?”

I shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. He won’t answer my calls or texts. But you saw the look on his face as he ran out of here.” That look, one of disappointment and resignation, had cut me to my core.

“I’m sure he’s mortified. Dominic should be proud of himself, though. The way he stood up to his stepmother was epic, and sounded like a long time coming. I wish someone would’ve recorded it so we could play it back for him, relive his moment of glory in rightfully putting her in her place.”

I smiled but didn’t feel any happiness behind it. I was too worried about Dominic. “I noticed several people who were recording on their phones, but I don’t think he’d ever want to watch it. Neither would I, knowing how much pain it caused him.”

I’d tried to run after him, to chase him down, desperate to console him. Hell, wasn’t I still trying to do that by calling, texting, and driving by his place? But it’s like he’d hidden himself away again, not wanting to be caught, not wanting my comfort. So, in spite of everything in me telling me to go after him, I decided to give him his space. I thought about texting Ashton to get his take on it, given word of what happened had already spread like wildfire across Denver, but part of me knew that too would just push Dominic further away. I needed to let him deal with this the way he needed to, which apparently meant doing so without me.

But that decision didn’t stop me from worrying about and missing him. Since our first date, when I’d watched him read to his little sisters, I’d known Dominic had a huge heart. Now I’d seen him stand up to the horrible woman who was responsible for most of his pain, and I was in awe of the man. How could someone be so vulnerable yet so strong at the same time? Hopefully by giving him space, he’d eventually let me back into his life to find out.

Chapter twenty-three

Dominic

Ipretty much locked myself in my room for the entire day after the gala. Eventually, Miss Rita and Ashton forced me to come down for dinner, but I knew I was only making them worry more by appearing despondent. So, I thanked them after we’d finished eating and went back up to my room to wallow in self-pity. How had I allowed things to get so out of hand?

I felt so embarrassed about what happened at the gala, in front of Dillon, his fathers and friends, and Kalen’s business clients, I couldn’t find it in myself to respond to Dillon’s texts or answer his calls.

I tossed my phone into the top drawer of my dresser so I wouldn’t give into temptation and call him back. Margarette had won once again, but I knew there’d still be hell to pay for publicly humiliating her. I couldn’t risk pulling Dillon and his sweet fathers into all my chaotic family drama. I didn’t know how, but I was sure my stepmother would try to hurt them if she thought they liked me.

A couple of weeks after the gala, we had our next family court hearing. The girls had been excused from testifying since thecourt-appointed specialists and therapists who had interviewed them determined they were extremely traumatized, and neither wanted to speak about the allegation. I understood, although I was desperate to see them.

Mr. Langdon warned me Margarette’s attorney, Mr. Clifford, had filed for a temporary restraining order against me, alleging I had stalked her to the party, then ended up making a scene. I wasn’t surprised, but it did make me mad. The woman was an expert at twisting her misdeeds to look like someone else was responsible.

The first part of the court proceedings dealt with the restraining order and all that led up to it. Margarette took the stand and testified about the laundry list of things written in the petition. When she was done, Mr. Langdon said, “Your Honor, if I may, these are the sworn affidavits from ten eyewitnesses of the events Ms. Shipley has just testified to. As you can see, their statements are quite different from Ms. Shipley’s account. Meanwhile, I also have several video recordings of the event, which I’m placing into evidence as well. Furthermore, I have multiple witnesses who have agreed to testify in court. They are currently standing by and can be in court in the next few minutes if the court so desires.”

Mr. Langdon sat down as the judge dealt with Mr. Clifford’s multiple objections, and he turned to me and winked. Then he leaned over and said, “Hold on to your seat, this is about to get even better.”

I had no idea what he meant, but if it meant I finally had the chance to come out on top, I welcomed whatever my attorney had up his sleeve. I held my breath as proceedings continued.

The judge overruled all Mr. Clifford’s objections and finally said to Mr. Langdon that although the videos and testimony were admissible, they wouldn’t be necessary. The affidavits wereenough for her to deny the petition for a temporary restraining order. Finally, I could breathe again.

“Ms. Shipley, I will remind you that you are under oath, and the penalties for perjury in my court are severe,” the judge said. “Since Mr. Langdon hasn’t pushed the issue for punishment…” She cocked her eyebrow at my attorney and waited, giving him the opportunity to do so. When he shook his head, she continued. “I won’t either. But you have now been warned, tell one more lie under oath in my courtroom, and you’ll spend a few nights in the county jail, is that clear?”

Margarette’s face was set, and she didn’t respond. “Ms. Shipley, is that clear?”

When she didn’t respond this time, her attorney cleared his throat and gave her a pointed look, causing her to begrudgingly nod.

“Good. Now, we have another petition that needs to be addressed at this time. Is the attorney for Mr. Galbraith here?” Who was that? Someone from the party maybe? I looked around for some clue as to what was happening.

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