Page 48 of Filthy Jealous Heir, Part Two

“Ooh, giving me orders, Beckworth.” He chuckles darkly, but it’s tinged with sadness. “Not sure I could move right now, anyway. My legs appear to not be working.”

Jesus, give me strength.

“I’ll be there as quickly as I can.”

“Yeah, yeah. Such pretty lies from your pretty, pouty mouth.”

I roll my eyes, slipping out of my bedroom and creeping down the hall to Dad and Fiona’s room.

Gently opening the door, I peek my head inside. “Fiona,” I whisper. “Fiona.”

“Olivia?” Her voice is thick with sleep. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I need to talk to you.”

Dad murmurs something, but Fiona soothes him back to sleep. She grabs her silk dressing gown and joins me in the hall.

“What is it?”

“Reese, he called me.”

Confusion bleeds into her weary expression. “He did?”

“Yes, he’s drunk. I think he’s still in Lymington, but I don’t know where. Is there anywhere you can think he would go?”

“I… you can’t be thinking of going after him? I should—”

“I’m going.”

“But…” Her brows knit tighter. “Olivia. Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“It’s not important. But I really need to find Reese, Fiona.”

“The beach. He always loved the beach.”

“The beach, okay.” I nod. “I’ll call you when I find him.”

“Let me wake your father. We’ll all go. It’s—”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. He’s angry and upset and…” I need to do this alone. I need to prove him wrong.

“Are you sure?” Uncertainty flickers in her gaze.

“I’ll be fine.”

“Okay.” I go to leave, but she grabs my arm. “Olivia?”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t know what’s going on between you and Reese but it doesn’t change anything, sweetheart. One day, he’ll marry Abigail.”

Her words hit me like a wrecking ball.

“Even if it’s not what either of them wants?”

Sadness washes over her. “Even then. I didn’t see it before. But you care about him, don’t you?”

I school my expression, and she gives me a sympathetic smile. “One day, he’s going to be your brother. Your family. You have to know it can’t ever work out.”

---