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Aspen jolts, but instead of stepping backward, she starts toward us. “Let me explain.”
“No, no, no! You had twenty years for that. Twenty damn years of me crying on my birthdays because they remind me of the mother who threw me away on that same day.”
“Just hear me out. Five minutes, no, three is enough.”
King blocks Aspen’s way. “She said she doesn’t want to talk to you. So fucking disappear.”
“You shut up, shut up! You ruined my life, you fucking asshole, and you don’t even remember it, so don’t stand there thinking you’re better than me. You’re not.”
“Oh, I don’t just think I’m better than you, I am. It’s a fucking fact. I didn’t throw away a few hours old baby in the cold, not caring whether she lived or died. I raised her, I took care of her. I became both her father and mother when you were living your life with not a care in the world. So go back to that life and leave us the fuck alone. You vanished once. Surely you can do it again.”
“I didn’t vanish. And who the hell are you to judge me? Were you there when I carried her in my womb when I was a fucking kid? When I couldn’t sleep at night, terrified something would happen to her?”
“No, but I was there for the following twenty years when you fucking weren’t, witch. And I will continue to be there when you’re gone.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Yes, you will.”
“You can’t make me, Kingsley.”
“Fucking watch me.”
Tears are streaming down Gwyneth’s cheeks and I wipe them with my thumb. The more she watches them arguing and on the verge of hitting each other, the harder she cries.
I’m used to this from them—not to this violent extent, but similar. Gwyneth isn’t.
“Stop,” I grind out, making them shut up as I hold Gwyneth tighter. “Stop being fucking selfish, this isn’t about either of you. It’s about her.”
“Angel, you don’t have to worry.” King takes her hand in his. “I’m going to make sure the board removes her from the firm, then she’ll disappear like she never existed.”
“There’s no reason for the board to remove me, and I swear to God, Kingsley, if you try any underhanded methods, I’ll sue you and take away your money. Oh, also, even if I’m out of W&S, I won’t leave the city.”
“Don’t listen to her, Angel. I’ll definitely get rid of her and we’ll go back to being the two of us.”
“No, Dad. No. I can’t just forget she exists because you tell me to. I have feelings and there are many of them. I can’t just erase them or pretend they’re nonexistent like you do.”
“Gwyneth…” Aspen stands beside King. “I…”
“This doesn’t mean I want to talk to you. Not after you abandoned me.”
“I didn’t. I would never do that.”
“All these years would testify otherwise”
“I thought you were dead!” Aspen cuts her off, her voice breaking before she inhales a sharp breath. “They put a dead baby in my hands and said she was mine. They…told me she didn’t survive childbirth and I thought…I thought that was you. All this time, I was mourning you.”
“Then how did I end up in front of Dad’s house?”
“It was my uncle and his wife. They wanted me to get rid of you since they found out I was pregnant, but it was too late at the time and no clinic would do it. They abused me, hit me, pushed me down the stairs, and kicked me all the time so you’d die. But you didn’t; you were a fighter. Until you weren’t, or so I thought. For twenty years, I believed you died because I couldn’t protect you properly. Because I was so young and clueless and didn’t know how to keep you safe.”
Gwyneth sniffles as if she could feel the pain behind Aspen’s words. She’s an empath that way, so even though she hates her, she can still allow her emotions to seep inside her. After a moment, she murmurs, “Why didn’t you go to Dad?”
Aspen scoffs and glares at him. “We didn’t know each other.”
“Jesus Christ.” King runs a hand over his face.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Gwyneth asks, and when he avoids her gaze, she squeezes his hand. “Dad, tell me. Don’t hide anything from me.”
