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I hate her.
I hate her so much that it eats away at me day and night.
My mother would be rolling in her grave if she saw what William is living through.
It’s a hell that he never deserved.
Her name is Penelope—the walking, talking devil.
I’m pulled out of my thoughts by my brother’s raised voice.
“I don’t know about this!” Edward snaps.
My father exhales heavily and pinches the bridge of his nose. “You know we have to go.”
“Why can’t you just come back here?” Edward asks William. “It’s six weeks.”
“Because I can’t get time off. Not everyone works for Dad, you know.”
“Huh?” I frown. “Hang on, what are you talking about?” I ask.
“Edward and I have to go to America for work. We’ll be away for six to seven weeks while we do the tour of the casinos. We want William to come back and stay here while we’re gone,” Edward tells me.
I look between them, confused. “Why?”
“You are not staying here alone, Charlotte,” my father says.
“Wait, what?” I frown. “This is about me?” I sit back, offended. “I’m twenty-four. I can look after myself.”
“No!” Edward asserts. “You’ll have to come with us.”
“I can’t get time off, and I’m not leaving my job, Edward.”
“For God’s sake, isn’t it about time you left that job and came and worked for the family business, anyway? We have a family empire that you should be working on. You don’t need to work in philanthropy.”
“This is our mother’s dream that I work on,” I hit back. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, Edward, or where to work. And besides, Wyatt and the staff will be here. I’m completely capable of looking after myself, you know?”
“Don’t tell her to leave her job. Why do you think you have the right to tell her what to do?” William snaps in my defence.
Edward turns, and I can see his anger rise to the surface. “You want to talk about leaving jobs?” He points at William. “Yes, let’s do that. When the fuck are you going to live up to your responsibility to this family and come and work in the business?”
“Edward.” My father sighs. “That’s enough.”
“I’m not,” William growls. “I never will. Casinos and making money aren’t life goals of mine.”
I close my eyes, resting my fingers on my temples. Here we go again.
“Why is that?” Edward growls back. “Because you’re hiding in fucking Switzerland with that whore.”
My eyes widen. He did not just say that.
“Because you’re too scared to bring her home in case she fucks someone else.” He shakes his head in disgust. “Wake up and smell the coffee, Will. She would have fucked ten men by now. When are you going to see her for what she really is? A dirty fucking whore.”
William flies out of his seat and pushes our brother hard in the chest. “Shut the fuck up.”
“Admit it!” Edward screams as my father flies out of his chair to separate the two men. “She’s brought nothing but shame to this family. We don’t even see you anymore. It’s about time you fuck her off and come home!” he yells.
They push each other and fall back. A glass gets smashed across the table as it tips over.
