Page 18 of Ensnared
Looking up at him, my vision blurred by tears, I tried to explain. "You know that's not true. At least this way, we all walk away with something positive. Dad gets the business he's always wanted, Mom gets a chance to fulfill her dream, and you get the promotion you deserve."
He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of my head. "And what do you get, Joey? Marriage to an evil asshole?"
I flinched at his words, even as a part of me knew they were true. "He's not that bad," I mumbled, struggling to convince even myself.
Logan's expression hardened. "Stick to your guns, Joey. Don't take any shit from Simone or Vaughn."
Vaughn. Simone. I'd almost forgotten about Colson's children, my soon-to-be stepfamily. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. Gaining their acceptance, navigating their potential animosity, would be a constant battle. And then there was Vaughn - the man who had proclaimed his feelings for me, who would now be forced to watch me marry his father.
I groaned, the realization hitting me like a ton of bricks. "I forgot about them."
Logan chuckled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "You'll be their stepmother."
"Ugh, don't bring that up. It's pretty creepy when you think about it," I grimaced, the idea making my skin crawl.
My brother let me go and stepped back, his expression turning more serious. "It sure is, but Simone's bark is worse than her bite. She’s gotten better."
She hadn’t. I gave him a tight-lipped smile, knowing deep down that his assessment was far from the truth. During Logan's freshman year at Yale, Simone had pushed me into the showers, the scalding hot water searing my skin. I'd suffered first-degree burns on my arms and hands, but I had kept silent, knowing that speaking up would only make my life a living hell.
Simone was popular, and with Logan gone, my high school existence had become a nightmare. I'd resorted to faking menstrual cramps and even a sprained ankle to avoid sharing a gym class with her. But now, the tables had turned. As Colson's wife, I would have the upper hand.
A spark of determination ignited within me, and I straightened my spine. "Well, now the shoe is on the other foot. I'm going to use my newfound position to get her back."
Logan's eyebrows shot up, a mix of surprise and pride in his expression. "Careful, sis. You don't want to underestimate the Ashworths. They play dirty."
I nodded, understanding the gravity of his warning. "I know, but I'm not that same scared little girl anymore. I've got teeth, and I'm not afraid to use them."
As I spoke the words, I felt a shift within myself. The timid, meek Josephine was fading away, replaced by a woman who was ready to fight for her place in this new world. Simone and Vaughn may have thought they could walk all over me, but they were about to learn a harsh lesson - I was no longer willing to be their victim.
With a newfound sense of purpose, I stepped out of Logan's embrace, smoothing down my dress. "I'm going to make them regret ever crossing me," I declared, my voice steady and sure.
My brother grinned, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. "That's my girl. Go show the Ashworths what you're made of."
As I left the room, I felt a weight lifting from my shoulders. The fear and uncertainty were still there, but they were overshadowed by a burning determination. I was no longer just the poor girl trying to climb the social ladder. I soon would be Josephine Ashworth, and I was ready to take on the world.
I stood in the center of my small room, watching as two men sent by Colson efficiently picked up the few belongings I had chosen to take with me. My clothing, a handful of sentimental items - that was the extent of what I was removing from this humble home. Anything else I might need, I knew, would be provided for me by my soon-to-be husband.
As I looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings, a heavy sadness settled over me. This would likely be the last time Iever set foot in this space, the last time I would breathe in the comforting scents of my childhood.
My mother's quiet sniffles drew my attention, and I turned to see the tears streaming down her face. "We won't see you," she choked out.
I crossed the room, wrapping my arms around her in a tight embrace. "You will," I assured her, my own throat constricted with emotion. "I love you."
My father's gruff voice reached my ears then. "You don't have to do this."
"Hush, Dad," I replied, the familiar exchange drawing a bittersweet smile to my lips. When I was a child, he would never let me dwell on my sorrows - one outpouring, and then a firmhushto signal the end of the discussion. I knew this was his way of acknowledging the finality of my decision.
I turned to him, burying my face against his chest, inhaling the comforting scents of freshly mown grass and damp earth that seemed to cling to his clothing. "Daddy," I whispered, my voice trembling.
"You can always come home," he murmured, his words barely audible to anyone but me.
I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing the truth in his statement. "No, I can't."
As he gently disentangled himself, his gaze meeting mine, I saw the understanding there. He knew, as well as I did, that any attempt to leave Colson would come at a devastating price. This was permanent, irrevocable.
I quickly moved to hug Logan, relishing the familiar comfort of my brother's embrace. We would still see each other, keep up our weekly lunches, but I knew those moments would be tinged with a longing for the life I was leaving behind.
With one last lingering look around the room, I followed the movers out the door, my family's anguished expressions seared into my memory. This was the end of one chapter and the beginning of another - one that would challenge me in ways I could scarcely imagine.
