Page 63 of Last Shot at Love

For the past few days, I’d imagined multiple versions of what her response might be when she found out who I was… but I’d never guessed this might be her reaction.

“You have nothing to apologize for, but we can talk about this later.” Catching her chin between my fingers, I placed a soft kiss on her lips.

“Thalassa?” Stefan and her father croaked in unison like bullfrogs. “Like the Thalassas who own Trident?”

“One and the same!” My brother swirled the wine in his glass.

“Cerulean and Lapis Thalassa?” Stefan repeated, as though still trying to process the information.

“Yes, those are our names. Don’t wear them out.” Lapis winked at Beryl.

He’d reverted to grade-school comebacks? I fought the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose.

Stefan sipped his wine, all the cocky confidence wiped from his face.

Her father was the first to recover. “Well done, daughter. You’ve made me proud.”

Beryl laced her trembling fingers through mine beneath the table, seeking comfort and showing me her vulnerability. On the outside, my mate appeared unaffected. Her posture hadn’t changed and her breathing was steady.

“I’ve spent years building my business from the ground up, using the money I earned while working under one demanding boss after another, to fund Chiroptera. Then I spent years re-investing every dime of my profits back into the company. All because I believed in myself when no one else did.”

Beryl took a breath and continued. “You offered Stefan a large financial gift when he turned eighteen to get his company off the ground. Most of which he squandered because he cared more about partying than work. Since then, you’ve poured thousands of dollars into his company every year to keep it afloat. All so he doesn’t have to face failure. And so you can parade him around, bragging to the vampire community, friends, and various business associates that your son is talented and takes after you.”

Unlocking her finger from mine, she flattened her palms on the table, and her voice rose. “Yet year after year, when I’d excitedly tell you of a promotion or award, you’d shrug it off as unimportant. I’m a vampire. Do you seriously think I couldn’t hear the laughter and comments you two made behind my back? The jokes about how many people I must have slept with to move up the ladder?”

Beryl rose to her feet, leaning toward her father as though staring down an opponent. She was breathtaking in her fury.

“And all because you couldn’t be bothered to recognize my talents or acknowledge my hard work. For years, I dreamed of the day I’d become successful, and you’d say those five little words to me: I am proud of you. Eventually, I realized I didn’t need your validation to feel worthy.”

Stefan made a move to speak, but shut his mouth at the warning glare I shot him. Or maybe it was the dark rings flashing on my neck and the back of my hands that scared him.

Beryl wasn’t finished. “Tonight, I finally heard those words I craved for so long. Not because my company made the cover of a dozen magazines in a single year. Not because I was nominated for Woman of the Year. Not because Chiroptera ranked among the top 10 investment firms worldwide. Not because I am mother-freaking-fantastic at my job.”

She was breathing hard and took a moment to steady herself before finishing. “No. You’re proud because you think your daughter finally took your advice to open her legs and her bed to a rich man… a man who you clearly have more respect for than you’ve ever had for me. You’re a pathetic excuse for a father, and I will never call you by that title again.”

Every eye in the room was staring in stunned shock at Beryl, and complete silence engulfed the restaurant. There was no sound of silverware clinking against china, idle chatter, or chairs scraping against the wooden floor.

Nothing.

At least until Lapis began a slow clap and stood to his feet. Within seconds, the table beside us joined in, and soon the entire restaurant was applauding.

Beryl jumped in surprise, her glazed eyes taking in the onlookers. She’d been so absorbed in telling her dad off, she’d forgotten where we were.

“That’s my sister-in-law!” Lapis proudly told the guests closest to him. “Isn’t she magnificent? We’re definitely keeping her.”

I was tempted to smack him until I caught sight of Beryl’s expression as she watched him. A tear trickled down her cheek as she hiccupped a laugh, and she sagged onto my lap.

Lapis’ silliness had dispelled her embarrassment at having made a scene, and I was grateful to him. Wrapping my arms around Beryl, I pulled her into a hug.

“Okay, the show part of the dinner is over. Everyone can go back to eating.” Lapis laughed as he spoke and settled back into the chair beside me.

The sounds of eating and chatting had barely resumed before Stefan leaned toward Beryl. “Stop trying to distract dad with your tantrum. You’re the issue here. It is you who is slacking, and how do you think your investors will react when they find out you married a Thalassa? I doubt they will believe you truly care about Chiroptera and its assets when your husband has more money than you could ever spend. I think they’ll worry you might become sloppy and take more risks because you can afford to… even if they can’t. It’s going to be a real shame when that news gets out…”

It wasn’t until that moment that I realized Stefan wasn’t just an entitled brat. His mask had slipped, showing the evil soul beneath.

I would have my team find every asset this man owned and sink them. Like the arrogant dick he was, he wanted to taunt Beryl with what he planned to do to her company. He was enjoying the perceived power he held over her.

That was the difference between us.

---