Page 59 of Shameless
Good. The time had come for me to take responsibility and get everyone on board. I nodded and said, “Exactly. As the oldest and the rightful heir?—”
“You don’t want the responsibility,” Bernadette interrupted.
I glared at my sister. “And you don’t get it either way. If something did happen to me, my heir becomes next in line now.”
She shook her head. “If she’s pregnant.”
My mother whispered to my father, “At least we were told.”
I sat opposite her and folded my hands on the table. “Do you honestly think I could make a trillion dollars and anyone would believe I’m stupid, sister? Making the family the victim of gossip gets you nothing. So now, Britney is pregnant, it’s mine, so that will be the last time you question her.”
Her face pinkened. “You can’t be serious right now.”
Good. She heard me. “I’ve never been more serious. Mother and I have agreed she is to give her staff a yearly clothing allowance to keep up with fashion for their black-and-white-only uniforms, and she is not going to be deciding other people’s clothes anymore.”
My mother’s face was pinched, but she nodded. “I will reside in the dower house when it’s time.”
I hoped that would be forever as I wanted nothing from this house.
Bernadette then said, “Father?—”
My father shook his head as he said, “Michael is my son and my rightful heir.”
Tears rolled down my sister’s face, and her lip curled as she said, “You sold my hand away in a debt years ago, and you still haven’t fixed any of it.”
Britney asked, “What?”
I blinked, unsure what Bernadette meant. Britney stared at her too.
Bernadette lifted her chin and said, “Father sold me. I’ve done everything I can to get out of the betrothal. He was supposed to ensure I was provided for, but it seems he’s not keeping his word even there.”
So that was one more thing I needed to handle. I turned and asked, “Father?”
He also cried but swiped it away. “It’s true. But that was not supposed to affect you or your future as I promised to handle it before I pass.”
My lawyers could pay off whatever this debt was if this was what was fueling Bernadette’s rage. None of us knew how to talk to each other, which had caused more tension on top of the lack.
I nodded. “I’ll fix this as well, but I’ll need his name and exactly what happened.”
“You’d help me?” Bernadette asked. “Just like that?”
I took a deep breath. I gestured to the woman I wanted to be better for. “In exchange, you stay away from antagonizing Britney or our growing family.”
Britney grunted and said, “Michael…”
“One minute,” I said, wanting to get to the bottom of this mysterious man and be done with all the secrets.
Britney stood and cried, “I can’t wait!”
I jumped out of my seat and held her waist. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head. “I’m in pain.”
My mother pressed a hand to her heart but otherwise stayed in her seat.
Britney winced, and my heart raced.
I held her as I told my family, “We will continue this discussion another time.”
