Page 22 of Accidental Baby With My Brother's Best Friend

I hear a huff followed by a sob. “It’s fine. I just—”

“Always feeling like she’s better than the rest of us. Take her family’s wealth out of the equation and she’s nothing. She doesn’t even come close to any of us. Damned trust fund kid.” Annabelle spits. I can picture the disgusted look on her face. Well that was completely off track but unexpected. Just hurts to hear it. A ‘trust fund kid’. That’s a new one and I think it hurts more than the others.

“That’s enough Anna.” Jess chides weakly. Her words are accompanied by another round of sobbing.

“Oh please. She can’t hear me anyways.”

“I can.”

Annabelle stops dead in her tracks as I step into the room. Jess turns around quickly and gasps. “Lily. What are you doing here?” She asks breathlessly, wiping her eyes hastily.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up. That was wrong of me.” I apologize again, taking a few hesitant steps forward. I look directly at her, ignoring Annabelle’s surprised look as I add, “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“It’s alright. Your feelings are valid. I would have done a lot worse if I were in your shoes.”

“Thanks Jess.” Finally I turn my attention to Annabelle who’s standing dead still, staring at me with something akin to shock on her face. “Thanks for the compliments by the way. It’s nice to finally hear you say it out loud even if again it wasn’t to my face.”

I turn to leave but she grabs my wrist, causing me to halt mid stride. “I called you a trust fund kid and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

I yank my wrist out of her grasp and give her a bitter smirk. “I know what you want. I’m not gonna give you the satisfaction.”

Annabelle smirks smugly at me. “There you go again. Acting like you’re better than the rest of us. Well you aren’t.”

I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my chest. I don’t want to get into this with her right now as enticing as it would be.

“Anna, that's enough.” Jess interjects sternly. She stands beside me, placing a protective arm around my shoulders and looking down at Annabelle in disapproval.

“Oh please. Ever since we became friends she’s been looking down at the rest of us like lowlives. Well newsflash, we make things happen by our hands. I am everything I am today by my hands. Guess who can’t say the same? You. One year after bagging your degree, you still haven’t been able to land a job for yourself. Guess you’re not so much of a hotshot without your Dad after all.” Annabelle sneers angrily at me.

“Annabelle!” Jess scolds her, her jaw clenching tightly. She turns to face me, her eyes pleading with me. “I’m sorry Lily. I swear I’ve never thought of you like that.”

I smile bitterly. “I know that.” I turn my attention towards Annabelle again, taking deep breaths to calm my raging nerves. For a moment, I’m caught between two minds. To ignore her completely or give her a piece of my own mind. Eventually, I decide on the latter.

“I’ve always known you were jealous of me. Well news flash, I’m not the cause of your problems. Your parents are. Both your terrible looks and your pathetic ‘lowlife’ status.”

Without waiting for her response I turn and stalk out the front door without saying another word. I stumble on Christie and Tanya in the hallway, both looking stunned.

“What happened? You guys were taking forever,” Christie asks.

“Nothing. I’m leaving. I’ll see you later.”

I can feel tears prickle at the corners of my eyes as I storm out onto the porch. She got one thing right though; all my life, I’ve always had it easy. My dad, my brother, they’ve always been there for me and supported me through everything.

It’s high time I did something for myself. It’s time I made it on my own, no matter how painful and annoying it might be. Starting with accepting the job offer at the art gallery.

Chapter11

Liam

“Imust say Mr. Denver, your artworks are amongst the finest the country has to offer,” Mrs. Banks, wife of the top officials in New York City says with appreciation written all over her face, as she gazes across my office. She sits down in the chair next to my desk while I lean against mine, crossing one leg over the other.

“Thank you ma'am. Your compliments are most appreciated, but please call me Liam.” I respond. “Thank you for taking an interest.”

She laughs. “You’re so polite, Mr. Denver.”

I gesture toward a box sitting on my coffee table. “Have a look inside?”

She cocks a brow curiously and does so. “What’s in it?”

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