Page 158 of F*ckboys

My body suddenly radiates with shivers. I try to still the trembling. I'm hot and cold at the same time as I realize I haven't addressed the biggest issue. And yet my father has the audacity to play things off as if they're all my fault.

"I can't believe you told him to propose to me, Dad! That I was just some business transaction to you."

He's unruffled, as if he was expecting me to come to him with this realization. "It was the right thing to do for both of our families, Fallon. I'm sure it would have happened at some point,anyway." He frowns. "That is, if you hadn't gone ahead and fucked it up the same way you fuck up everything else."

"There we go, any opportunity to call your only daughter a fuckup. I didn't have to wait very long for that old chestnut to come out."

"Well, I call things like I see them," he shrugs. "And in this case, you've once again put your selfish wants over what's best for the family, Fallon. Why am I not surprised?" He looks down his nose at me like I just flunked a minor high school quiz. Not as if I just found out my fiancé was a lying, cheating betrayer of my trust.

"Well, Dad, I hope your precious company was worth sacrificing your daughter for," I say softly. "Because you've lost me for good this time."

I turn on my heel and stalk out, ignoring his shouted curses behind me. He's not the only one who can storm out of conversations to prove a point. Our family is broken, but for the first time, I feel free, and like I truly have nothing to lose.

Chapter 87

Fallon

Itake a deep breath and walk into the dining room. The chatter dies as eight pairs of eyes turn to me. I grip the back of the empty chair, my knuckles turning white. Despite my argument with my father, I still feel obligated to show up at this god-awful recurring event. It's not all about him, anyway.

Cheston clears his throat. "Fallon, come sit. Dinner's ready."

I avoid Link's glare and sink into the chair. The tension makes the room suffocating.

Zara passes the mashed potatoes. "So, Fallon, how's work?"

"Fine." I stab a potato, imagining it's Link's smug face.

"Fallon's too busy with her new boyfriend to work," Link says.

My hand clenches around the fork. "That's not true. I do not have a new boyfriend." I know he's trying to goad me, and it's working.

"Oh, really?" Link leans forward. "Then why haven't you been home until midnight all week?"

"Because I've been working. Not that it's any of your business. How would you know that, anyway? Did you hire another private investigator?"

"It is my business when that bastard is taking advantage of my sister."

"The last person I was with was Aksel, and he's not like that! And I broke up with him. You know that." I shout, throwing my fork down, instantly protective of Aksel, which surprises even myself. It clatters across the table and comes to a stop near Link.

Cheston's hand closes over my wrist. "Calm down." His warning tone does nothing to soothe my anger.

"Good one, Cheston," I growl, even though he's only trying to help. "That expression has never calmed anyone down. Like ever."

Link points his knife at me. "I don't want that lowlife anywhere near you."

I yank my arm from Cheston's grip and stand. "You don't control me or who I date!"

"Sit down, both of you," my father snaps. "And put down your knife, Link. Stop being ridiculous."

I glare at Link. "You need to accept that I was with Aksel, and that maybe this isn't the end of us." Again, my words surprise me. "If you can't, then stay the hell away from me."

Tensions rise again over dessert, the bitterness of the espresso in the decadent tiramisu aligned with the expression on my brothers' faces. Link's gaze bores into me, his jealousy palpable.

"So, did you have a good time with Aksel the other night?" His tone is biting, meant to provoke.

I clench my fork, heat flooding my cheeks. "That's none of your business."

"Oh, come on, sis. We're family. We share everything, remember?"

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