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“But they can hyphen the name, or they don’t even have to take it at all. Men can take a woman’s name now, I’m sure of it. Your family has some very outdated views.”
“They’d have to find a man willing enough to take a woman’s name.”
“You think love won’t do it?” she asked.
“Clearly love has never been tested and then you’ve got to worry about gold diggers.”
“I see your point. If love won’t get them to change their name, a cushy lifestyle will. I see.” She shrugged. “I don’t know if this will help you at all, Drake. In the eyes of the law, they’re still in charge, and will be for a long time.”
“And you don’t want me to kill them?”
She rolled her eyes and he laughed. “You’re not going to kill them. It wouldn’t work, and you know it. There’s nothing you can do but wait it out. I’m sorry.”
“What about if I show them to be incompetent? Is there a way for me to get away from them?”
“Emancipation is a real deal, Drake. I’m not a lawyer and I don’t know how it all works.” She took his hand, locking their fingers together. “We’re not going to win this. We’re not going to be together.” She pulled his hand close, pressing a kiss to his knuckles. “And we’ve got to accept it.”
“I don’t want to.”
“I know, but it doesn’t change the fact we have to.” She pulled away and he made no move to hold her hand again.
There was no point.
He’d been grasping at straws.
There was no future for them.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Everything happens for a reason
Graduation wasn’t far off, and with it, studying, college applications, and just life. Pru spent all of her available time trying to make a decision between staying in town or leaving for good.
There was nothing but her parents to hold her back.
They loved her, she knew that without a doubt, but … she wanted more. Her mother had told her not to make a decision based on staying with them, but for herself.
At a fast food restaurant, she took a huge bite out of her burger, closing her eyes as she tried to think. Every time she looked at the two applications, the college in town, and one out of state, she always hesitated, and it wasn’t a good feeling.
What did Drake want to do? Did he have any plans for his future, or was it to follow in his parents’ path rather than his own?
Chewing her food, she stared across the mall and watched as people passed by. She’d finished her shift an hour ago, and now she was bored. The only place to go was to head home.
“I have to say, I figured my son would have more class than to go for a girl like you, but I guess there’s no accounting for taste.”
She paused, looking up to see Drake’s father standing beside her. He stood out like a sore thumb. He wore an expensive-looking suit and sneered at everyone around him. She didn’t know why he’d come to a place he clearly despised.
“Mr. Connor, what are you doing here?” she asked, sitting up. She didn’t want to be alone with this man.
“You and I both have our reasons for what we do, and well, they kind of mesh right now.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I don’t know what kind of hold you have on my son, but I want you to let him go.”
She stared at him, confused. “I don’t have any hold on him.”
The older man raised an eyebrow.
She looked around the dinner hall but no one was paying any attention to them.
“I’ll make this simple.” He pulled out an envelope and slid it across the table. “I want you gone. Your family as well. I’ve already paid a visit to them. They made the right choice.”
“What is this?”
“A new start. A chance to find a way for yourself without anyone present,” he said.
She lifted up the envelope and sure enough, there was a check inside, along with some cash. She didn’t bother to count the money.
Closing the envelope, she looked at him.
“You can go to any college you want. I’ll pay for it.”
She stared at him, not really sure what to say. The check was for a huge amount. More than she would ever need. “You’d be willing to send me to college, pay for it, and all this money as well?”
“I knew the temptation would be too good for you to resist.”
“I didn’t say I was going to take this.”
“If you know what is good for you, you’ll take it.” The threat was very clear in his voice.
She looked around the mall again. No one paid them any attention and she couldn’t believe no one was watching.
“Your parents have already accepted their deal. This is for you, and there is a time limit on it, so you might want to consider what it is you want out of life.”
