Page 15 of The Omega Switch: Part 2

"The company’s not doing so well, is it, Phillip?” I asked, and I couldn't help the mocking tone in my voice. I was never mean, not ever - especially to my family. But just this once, I reveled in the fact that they actually needed me all along. They just didn’t want to admit it. “The person who actually knew how to create your products isn't there anymore."

His silence lasted only a moment before his temper surfaced. "You abandoned us," he said in an accusatory tone.

"I left, and I should have done it sooner," I said, my voice shaking even though I was glad to be standing my ground finally.

“Jesus, Ivy, you’re the most ungrateful child in the world!” He shouted. "Stop acting like a brat!"

I looked around my apartment, taking in the little place I’d made for myself, the rows of perfume bottles I'd created under my own name, and Puff sleeping peacefully in his little bed beside the balcony door.

"I spent my whole life trying to earn your approval," I said quietly. "Do you know what I've finally realized? You never wanted me. You only tolerated me. I remind you too much of Mom, and so you treat me the same way."

"Ivy-"

"I'm done. Don’t contact me." I snapped.

"You don't mean that." He warned.

"I do." My voice was resolute.

"You'll regret this." My father said, the hint of a growl in his voice. But I wasn’t scared anymore. I didn’t need him, or his approval, ever again. I smiled sadly as I looked out over the little town that had become my home.

"The only thing I regret is not leaving sooner."

Before anyone could say another word, I ended the call. Despite the tumultuous conversation, I felt amazing. For the first time in my life, I'd told them exactly what they had done to me without apologizing for a single thing. I stepped onto my balcony and breathed in the familiar scent of lavender drifting up from the garden below, and realized I was finally free of them.

Unfortunately, knowing my family as well as I did, I also knew freedom was rarely something they surrendered willingly. The Carringtons had spent decades controlling every part of my life, and a quiet voice in the back of my mind warned me that people like them rarely accepted losing control. But this time, I was ready.

Chapter 9

Elias

I wasn't ready to return to medicine. I could admit that to myself, at least. For months now I'd told everyone I was exhausted and burned out. But the truth was, I didn’t trust my own judgment anymore.

I thought I was a great doctor. I prided myself on listening to my patients, being a healer, and helping people live better lives. Patients came to me because they felt heard and understood. I had published research on stress responses in omegas, consulted on bonding psychology, and spent years believing that I could spot what everyone else overlooked. I'd been proud of that. But I had also been around Ivy, and managed to miss what was going on.

My colleagues assumed I was suffering from burnout after everything that had happened with Pack Vale and our breakup with Arabella. They encouraged me to take a vacation, travel, or spend time with friends. They thought my exhaustion was curable. It wasn’t, though. My body was missing my match, and it was punishing me for letting her go.

The realization hit harder every day until it became impossible to ignore. I couldn't keep telling myself that I'd been deceived, because while that was true, it wasn't the whole truth. I'd had every opportunity to question what I was seeing. All my instincts had been whispering that something wasn't right, yet every time those doubts surfaced, I allowed someone else to explain them away.

"She's just shy."

"She's always been anxious."

"She doesn't handle social situations very well."

"She attacked Arabella, she’s unstable."

I had listened - just not to Ivy. Ivy hadn’t told us the truth about what was happening until her outburst at the PR launch. As for why she waited that long, I had no clue. But she shouldn’t have had to use words. I should have seen the signs. I had seen a few - her small frame, almost bordering on underweight. Then there were her descenter burns. And the way she shrank around others.

I’d failed her. And I wasn’t going to fail anyone else. So instead of going back to work, I drove across town one morning and parked outside the Phoenix Omega Resource Center. The building was pretty nondescript, but something about it felt calm and welcoming the moment I stepped inside. It was calm, with children's artwork decorating the hallways, and I could smell fresh coffee from somewhere in the building. The woman at the reception desk greeted me with a smile.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"I hope so," I said, unsure if I should even be here. "I signed up to volunteer." The woman’s eyebrows raised.

"That’s wonderful! You must be…." She reached for a clipboard. “Ah, yes. Elias. Betas are allowed to volunteer, but only in certain areas, as you can understand. And we always appreciate physicians donating their time."

I shook my head. "I don't want to see patients." She looked up at me, surprised. "I'd rather stock shelves or clean. Whatever needs doing." I said, before taking a breath. “But more importantly, I want to attend the workshops for seeing signs of abuse. It’s important to me.” I said, my nerves getting the best of me.