Page 200 of Soul Mates: Hercules Valentine and I
“Do they know?”
“It doesn’t matter. Their father is long gone. It didn’t work out between us.”
I’m experiencing sensory overload. I want to rip this room apart. I would never lay a hand on my mother, and never will I ever want to. At the moment, though, I have an overwhelming desire to see her punished for all the lies she’s told.
But now I know why I’ve always been the sacrificial lamb. I'm the true heir to the fake Valentine beneficiary. I swallow, trying to keep myself from throwing up. My head is spinning. I need air. I need space. I need to get away from her.
“Goodbye, Mother,” I say and tear out of the room.
“Hercules,” she calls after me.
I stop where the sunroom meets the hallway, but I don’t turn around to face her.
“I’m sorry,” she utters in a shaky voice.
I can’t face her even though I have a lot more questions. My brain shuffles the details. I have to keep my eyes on the big picture. We’re screwed if we have to spend another day relying on that trust. I know that now more than ever.
“I know, Mother.”
“But if you don’t marry Rain, we’ll lose it all.”
I shake my head. She doesn’t get it. “Mother, we’ve already lost it all.”
Chapter Sixty-Seven
The Sobering Truth
Paisley Grove
8:37 p.m.
Ihear knocking. No. It’s banging. Someone is banging on my door.
I open one eye then the other. The only lights that illuminate my apartment are those that mingle in the constant glare that infuses New York City.
“Paisley?”
I sit up. I’ve been asleep on the sofa for a while. But that’s Max shouting like madman outside my apartment. I sit very still, pondering whether I should answer the door or not. Suddenly, I hear two voices. One is Lake’s.
“If she’s not answering, then she’s not home,” Lake says.
“Is she in your apartment?” he woofs like he owns the world.
“No, she isn’t, Max Grove.” Her tone is sweet, convincing.
I love her so much. She’s so smart.Yes, Lake. That’s the tone to take with my arrogant brother.
“Then where is she?”
“I don’t know. But how about I tell her to give you call when she gets back.”
“Stop screwing with me, young lady.”
“I’m not screwing with you, old man. We’re supposed to have dinner later tonight. I have access to her apartment. Would you like me to take you around?”
Oh no.My eyes expand beyond their limit as I carefully bound to my feet. I take one step then halt to look around for my shoes.Shoot. They’re on my feet. I pad extra carefully to the guest room.
“Please try again,” the keypad says over and over as I whip my head this way and that, trying to find the perfect hiding space.
