May shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter, legally, if he named you in that will, then she can’t do anything but hold the money for you until your thirtieth birthday.” She stands and shakes her finger in the air. “I’m going to ring Clive, our family lawyer. He’ll straighten this right up.”
I nod absently as a plan forms in my head to get Thea away from our parents for good. I can only hope that she goes along with it.
May comes back into the room, beaming from ear to ear. “Okay, Clive said he has time to meet you later today if you’d liketo. He can go over the details in the meeting and help you on the legal side of things.”
I stand and pull May into a hug as I whisper. “Thank you, May. I appreciate you helping me.”
**********
I spent the afternoon poring over documents that Clive had managed to obtain from my grandad's estate. Turns out my mother spent everything he left her, and somehow she had managed to get Thea to sign over her portion of the inheritance, which was now gone as well.
It turns out my parents aren’t very good at running a business, and they've spent the past five years borrowing money against a home they no longer own, with people who have no business loaning money. All in all, my parents truly have nothing left, but they’re too stubborn to ask for help, instead choosing to threaten their children to get ahead.
On the drive home, I think of all the things my parents have done, and although I should feel angry with them, I can’t. Instead, all I feel is pity. I don’t wish them or anyone else harm, but I don’t want to make it easier for them, not with everything they’re doing to Thea.
When I arrive home, Nate’s sitting outside with Archie. As if they’re in sync, they both look towards my car as I pull up and smile. Nate stands and walks over, opening the car door for me.
When I step out and close the door, he pulls me towards him and places one hand on my cheek as his eyes search mine. Somehow, we don’t need words; it’s like he knows what’s going through my mind.
“You two are so weird talking with your minds.” Archie’s face pops up right next to us.
I roll my eyes before looking at him. “Hello to you, too, Arch.”
He hops from one foot to another. “I’m bursting to pee; can you hurry up and open the door?”
We walk to the house, and I open the door. Archie runs inside and up the stairs to the bathroom while Nate follows me into the kitchen.
I turn in time to see him pick up the envelope that was delivered this morning. His eyes flick to mine as he holds it up. “This guy’s relentless. Are you okay?”
I nod. “I’m okay, I’m ignoring it, I have nothing to say to him, and for once he’s the least of my worries.”
Nate’s brow creases. “What do you mean?”
I blow out a breath and scrub my hands down my face. “Thea came to see me this morning. She told me my grandad left me a lot of money, and my parents have told her that if she doesn't marry for money, they'll take my inheritance. They’re beyond broke.”
Nate’s face contorts with rage. “They can’t do that, it’s illegal. Let me ring my mum, we have Clive and–”
I step in front of him and cut him off. “Don’t worry, your mum asked me over this morning, and I told her everything that happened. I’ve already been to see Clive; he’s going to help me.”
Nate places a kiss on my forehead. “And here’s me thinking I could be all dramatic and save the day with a grand gesture.”
“Did someone say grand gesture? I can do that, I haveloadsof ideas.” Archie saunters into the kitchen, grabbing an apple out of my fruit bowl before taking a bite.
He hops onto my counter, looking between Nate and me, and he mumbles around a mouthful of apple. “What?”
Nate shakes his head, but I laugh. “I was just telling Nate about my parents. They don’t have anything left, so they’re using Thea to marry into a wealthy family, and if she doesn’t, they’ve threatened to take my inheritance. Luckily, your mum put me in touch with your family lawyer to help me, so now I need to find a way to get Thea back here and away from them.”
Archie snaps his fingers. “This calls for a code name. We could call it ‘Operation Breakout’; we need to get the rest of our brothers involved. We create a distraction at the front of the house while you, Hayleigh, sneak in through the back and grab Thea.” He winks at me, smiling his head off and nodding like a madman.
Nate pinches the bridge of his nose, shaking his head. “I’m sorry about him.”
Laughter bubbles up my throat. “Archie, there will be no ‘Operation Breakout’, have you learned absolutely nothing from the last ‘operation’ you did?”
Archie waves his hands. “Total misunderstanding, butthistime, we’ll execute it perfectly.”
I step out of Nate’s embrace and walk towards Archie, lean forward and wrap my arms around his waist. “Thank you for being such a good friend, but this is something I have to do by myself. I have to be able to stand up to my mother once and for all.”
He hugs me back. “At least let us come with you? What if she kidnaps you and tries to sell you on?”
