Page 93 of Make You Love Me

Ethel’s demeanor suddenly changes after a few seconds of looking like a fish out of water. “Where did you get this information?” she says angrily.

“Certainly not out of someone’s personal journal,” I say sarcastically.

“You aren’t going to turn me in because if you do there is nothing stopping me from doing the same to you,” Ethel says confidently as she picks up her phone, most likely to call James.Joke’s on her.

My comeback to this reaction is ready and waiting because I expected her to say that. “Oh, I know, and I am fully prepared for it. First off, twenty years later do you really think a piece of paper is going to hold up in a court of law? But if that’s what it takes, I don’t care… you are going down for this Ethel Richmond.” I smile because it's going to be a sweet day when justice is served. “I’ll share my damn cell with you if that’s what it takes.”

***

Lottie-

The anticipation is killing me. I don’t know how much longer I can listen to Ethel spew such nonsense. The fact that she has denied nothing gives me a sense of satisfaction. But I still want answers. I want to know why. Why did she let it get this far? What role was I supposed to play in all of this?

Greyson is stoic beside me, letting me take the lead when I want to burst through the doors and raise hell. I want to give Smith his time to hash things out.

I hear Smith say something about sharing a cell with Ethel, and I take that as my queue to enter the room. He’s certainly not going to jail, not over this woman.

Turning the knob to the study, my hand is halted when Greyson lays his on top of mine. I look up into his green eyes, seeing his concern.

“You got this,” he says, encouraging me and filling me with the strength he knows I’ll need to face her. “There's enough fire in your eyes to tear down this whole fucking house but know I'm here if it becomes too much to bear.” He places a gentle kiss on the top of my head and then removes his hand from mine.

“Thank you,” I say, straightening my back and lifting my head high. I can't help but smile at the look of pride Greyson sports as we enter Ethel’s study side by side.

Ethel's stare cuts to Greyson and me as we cross the threshold. Smith stands there with a smirk on his face as if he's had fun playing with Ethel so far. She still seems fairly composed, all things considered.

“Oh Charlotte, darling, please help me find James so he can escort this riff-raff out of our home.” I have to hand it to her, she really knows how to turn it on.

“Well, considering he let the riff-raff in, I highly doubt he's going to be helping you,” Greyson practically sneers from beside me.

Ethel scoffs as if she refuses to believe James would have played a role in all of this. She looks to me, then to the Rexwood men who flank my sides. My disdain for her is written all over my face. There is no talking herself out of this one, and I think she just came to that realization. Her body sways ever so slightly, but she quickly recovers and straightens her back.

“Charlotte, please let me explain. They're lying. All of this is just their attempt at revenge.”

"That bullshit might sound legit to someone else, someone like your accountant who you have obviously been lying to for years, but it won't work on me. After discovering the deceit and finagling you have done to keep this charade going, I wouldn't put anything past you at this point." I pause to make sure she is hearing me before I continue.

“So please, just be straight with me. For once in your life, cut the act and the façade. Because we all know you’ve been stealing from the research fund, you’re ass-up on your loan on the country club, and basically broke. But what was my purpose in all of this? How did you think I was going to help you get ahead because we all know you weren’t going to touch my inheritance.”

Ethel snaps at the mention of the inheritance. “Stupid, fucking man. How dare he give a seventeen-year-old what's rightfully mine.”

“He was still alive when you started having money trouble… why wouldn’t you have just gone to him instead,” I say, grabbing the folder of all the copied documents from Smith.

“Please, that old bastard wouldn’t have given me a cent. He despised me, probably because of your mother… the apple of his eye. You know she could do nothing wrong in his mind. He worshipped the ground she walked on. Even when she got knocked up by some loser who left her immediately after finding out, he made sure you and her would want for nothing. Then you came along, little chunky thing that you were, and he could see no wrong in you either. I was pushed out by my own legacies.”

My jaw hits the floor hearing the hate Ethel harbored towards her own flesh and blood.

“Shut your damn mouth Ethel. You don’t get to talk like that about Lottie in front of me. You’re done feeding her mind with stupid insecurities based off your own jealousy.” A pissed-off Greyson growls beside me. I love how protective he is of me but for once I’m going to say exactly what’s on my mind.

“You never even tried! You cast yourself out. There were plenty of opportunities for you to show you had some shred of humanity inside that black heart of yours,” I yell, no longer able to contain my frustration.

“I didn’t want his pity money.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it! Papa and Gigi hoped like hell you would show up one day. Show up for your family who had suffered enough. Show up for me, the stupid seventeen-year-old who has lost everyone she ever loved. The one that kept holding out hope even when Papa and Gigi told me I didn’t have to go to Nori Beach in the summers if I didn’t want to. But I kept going because a stupid part of me thought maybe one day I would be good enough for you and you would finally see me.”

I wipe the tears from the corners of my eyes, trying to regain my composure. I feel Greyson's large hand press against my lower back, urging me to continue, to get the answers I need. “I’m going to ask again. Why me? What role did I have in your plans?”

“Well, once lover boy over there got you away from the horrid Waterbury's son, I was hoping to set you up with Jacob. The Roberts family comes from a long line of money. They’re an original railroad family. Did you know that? They basically swim in it… Jacob’s father has been the biggest sponsor of the fund for years. He lost someone very close to him to cancer.”

“So, you mean to tell me you exploited this man's grief and loss for your own personal gain? What kind of person are you? Wait don’t answer that, we’re all well aware of what you are,” I say, waving my hand to the three of us standing as a united front.

---