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Just my luck, as we arrived outside the front, we found Lord Pike tongue-lashing Bram, like he was berating an unruly child. Although cold comfort, I wasn’t the only one his crazed son had embarrassed that night.
“Wait here,” Theadora said, as we stood behind a tree.
I could see Bram turning around looking for someone. Probably me.
He lit a cigarette and perched himself against the fountain with a newly erected statue of Venus posing on a shell filled with coins. I’d thought that sculpture tacky, as did my mother. A friend of Crisp’s designed it, which came as no surprise—taste took talent, not wealth.
I sent Theadora off to get my brothers so I could remain in hiding.
Crossing my arms, I leaned against the tree, wishing I could rewrite the past year. Keep Carson and get rid of everything else, including Manon taking up residence at Merivale.
They joined me, and Theadora held my hand.
“I can see your boyfriend’s off his face and causing trouble. Drake’s not sure whether or not to toss him out. I would’ve by now,” Declan said.
“He’s blackmailing me. I’m in trouble.” I looked at Theadora for courage, and she squeezed my hand. “There’s a sex tape.”
Declan frowned. “If he wants money, that’s easy enough.”
I shook my head. “Not money. I’m to parade as his girlfriend.”
“And be exclusive?” Ethan asked.
“Nope. He’s into guys too. Maybe more so, I think.” My face crumpled in dismay. With each word, the ugliness of the situation grew like a deadly tumour. “He’s parading me as his girlfriend for his dad. Lord Pike wants Bram to marry money.” I rolled my eyes. “You know our scene, the same predictable rubbish.”
In the distance, Bram staggered about with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, accosting people with babble, and making a general nuisance of himself.
“So his father, who knows our family well, is lumping that piece of shit on you. On us?” Ethan asked with a hint of anger.
“Yep. That’s about it.”
“Lord Pike’s known for gambling debts and womanising. He’s not exactly Mr. Nice Guy,” Declan said.
“Runs in the family.” I sighed.
“And you’ll be a billionaire in your own right when you turn thirty, Savvie,” Ethan said.
I sighed. “His dad wants my money, for sure. And Bram needs to keep up his stipend. His father’s threatened to cut him off if he doesn’t settle down. With me, it seems.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Declan crossed his arms in defiance.
Knowing I wasn’t alone in this struggle helped lift my spirit.
But I also needed Carson more than ever.
Chapter 12
Carson
Bramactedlikeafirst-class dickhead. What was Savanah doing with him? Holding his hand, showing the world they were together.
But why did she keep looking like the sky was falling? Every fibre in my body screamed to rescue her from that idiot, but I couldn’t. We were meant to be a secret.
Does she need saving? Or is it just some twisted game?
I couldn’t believe she’d even turned up with him, especially after telling me how much she detested him, something I could relate to because Bram behaved like the drunken clowns I used to toss out of clubs.
Drake kept glancing over at me. I could see he wasn’t sure whether to step in and do just that. When Bram first started acting up, Drake headed over to have a word with him, but then an older man, who I gathered was Bram’s old man, stepped in, said something to Drake, and then dragged his son outside himself. Ten minutes later, Bram returned and again caused a stir.
