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ChapterThirty-Three
THEO
I can’t believe what I am reading. It’s like déjà vu.
Fucking Melody.
I press call on my piccola’s number for what feels like the hundredth time only for the same result.
She isn’t answering my calls.
I still have an alert set up for Thalia’s name and when the article popped up, I was livid. Still am.
I was having dinner with my parents at their rental apartment, and I damn near exploded when my eyes hit my cell. I feel out of control. I want to throttle Mel.
“Calm down, son.” My father places a hand on my shoulder, stopping my pacing.
I glance at him. “Calm down? Dad, have you seen the fucking article? I never wanted this for Thalia. She will be devastated. And now I can’t get ahold of her,” I grunt.
My mother steps up to us. “Thalia is strong, Theo. It will work out,” her voice is soft, soothing. She’s trying to calm me but it’s not helping.
“From a PR perspective, how bad is this?” I want an honest answer from my dad and from the look on my face, he knows it.
He exhales, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not going to lie to you, and I know you want complete transparency, so I’ll give it to you. It’s pretty damning. What is being said, the claims being made, it would look bad for anyone. I always told you, no one likes who they think is a homewrecker.” He sighs and my body vibrates with anger at anyone thinking my piccola is the villain in this. “That being said, we can spin this in both of your favors. If you’re willing to come clean about what happened, what Melody has done, to you and to Thalia. The public perception will more than likely change. I know you don’t want to be seen as a victim, and you’renota victim, Theo. But if you tell your side of the story, the belief you were assaulted, the drugging of the horse. People are more likely to sympathize with you and Thalia,” he finishes.
I run a hand through my hair in frustration. I never wanted to go public with what happened, but maybe it’s time. I will happily put myself out there if it means saving my piccola’s reputation. She doesn’t deserve this. I thought Mel had learned, would back off with the threats and what I have against her, but clearly, she just can’t help herself. She thinks I won’t stand up against her, thinks she has gotten away with all her bullshit. She’s wrong.
“Who do you know that will tell my side of the story?” I’m going out on a limb here. It might not be what Thalia wants but I’ll try anything to make sure she is not vilified. I’m sure the Maxwells already have their own PR and legal teams on this and if my piccola would just answer her cell, we could discuss it and do it together.
An idea pops into my head. I rush to the counter grabbing my keys. “I need to go to Thalia. I know where her parents are staying.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? From what you said, her father is tolerating you at best, I don’t think it will help your cause now that this is out in the world,” my father says.
“I don’t care what he thinks, what anyone thinks. I need to get to her. She isn’t answering my calls. I need to see her.”
“We’ll come with you. Your father can help, Theo, it’s what he does. I know they have their own people but if Michael can help or give advice in any way then surely that’s a positive?” my mama adds.
I pause thinking about it. My mama’s right. If my dad can help in any way, then it’s a good thing. I nod. “Okay, let’s go.”
We all load into my car. I peel out of the parking lot, my mind racing with thoughts of Thalia. I hope she’s okay. Well, as okay as she can be. I drive through the small town and towards the exclusive area where I know the Maxwells are currently living. I’m around twenty minutes out when my cell rings. I grab up my phone, my heart jumping with joy when I see my piccola’s name. I hit the answer button on the steering wheel and her voice sounds on the car speaker. I sigh in relief.
“Theo?”
“Piccola, where have you been? Why didn’t you answer my calls?”
“Did you see the article?” her breath hitches and my heart constricts painfully in my chest.
“I saw. I’m on my way to your parents’ house,” I tell her.
“I just left there. Greg is taking me to get some clothes from my apartment. We are dropping Franny back and then I’m going to stay with my parents until this all calms down,” she cries, sounding devasted. It’s killing me.
“Baby, don’t cry,” I whisper.
“After everything she has done, was it not enough?” Her sobs break me further, and I hear Francois’ voice in the background trying to soothe her. I’m glad someone is there for her, but I hate that it’s not me.
“Everything will be alright, piccola. I’m going to fix this. She will not win—” I’m cut off by a crashing sound and screams. My eyes widen, heart pounds in my chest when I realize it’s coming from the phone. “Piccola?” I scream. There’s no answer just the sound of metal crunching and shouting. “Thalia?” I snap again trying to keep myself from crashing.
“Pull over son,” my dad says from the passenger seat.
