AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Maybe.Butwe don’t have an update onRose"
“Itmight do you good to get away and take your mind off her,” she gently said. “Untilthey approve visitations, there is nothing more you can do.”
Myshoulders lifted. “There’salso the matter of security.You’dhave to spare someone from your team,”Ispoke inattentively, preoccupied with fixing the front ofNeil’sshirt.
Thelast thingIwanted was to oweZaneany favors, but my security team belonged to his payroll, and safety was non-negotiable.Afterthe break-in at my old apartment, the board was convinced a lunatic was after me.Theyreminded me that callous actions put everyone in jeopardy.IfIwere kidnapped due to a lack of a competent security team,Icould be held for ransom or used against the company.
Ihad never considered employing bodyguards before and feared it might be too late.Vettinga security team took an excruciating amount of time, longer with an active threat in place.Theperpetrator searched for opportunities, so a newly put-together team would be vulnerable and easy to infiltrate.Byhiring security now,I’dwelcome more danger into our lives.
Mom’sface fell at the mention of security, recalling the looming threat. "Oneguard won’t be enough, not if theMaxwellsare behind the recent attacks,” she mumbled, voice tinged with apprehension.
“Theyare not,”Ibristled. “YousawRose’svideo.Damonhad nothing to do with it.”
Momcaught on to the defensiveness in my tone and frowned. “AllIknow is thatDamonMaxwellseduced her, and he must’ve had a reason.”Shemade a meager sound, her words more apprehensive than venomous. “PoorRose.She’stoo nice for her own good.”
Everyonewas convincedDamontoyed with sweetRose’sheart for nefarious reasons, though the video absolved him from physically pushing her.Awar had been brewing sinceNickuncovered the messages on her phone.Devinsisted the board withdraw from another project involving theMaxwells, a boycott that’d be detrimental to our company.
“Ihave an idea,”Momexclaimed, bypassing the morose topic. “Whydon'twego toVegastogether for the remainder of your break?”
Iknew whereMom’smind had wandered.ShebelievedIwas in danger and would only find solace if she were nearby with an army of guards shielding me.Honestly, spending a few days withMomwasn’t entirely revolting.Wehadn’t taken a trip or even hung out alone sinceMomremarried.
“Ican keep myself busy while you meet up with your friend.Wecan hang out after,”Momsuggested. “Wealways talked about going back, and now we can make it happen.”
Eonsago, we discussed returning toVegasfor a mother-daughter trip.Puttingthe plan in motion at long last didn’t repel me.Ienjoyed my mother’s sense of humor.Shewas the perfect person to help me overcome this fixation withDamonbecauseIneeded to move on.Afterregaining consciousness,Rosewouldn’t rejoice in my relationship with the man responsible for seducing her.Themere notion of seeing us together might put her into another coma.Imight not consider myself a good person, butIhad no desire to ruinRose’slife beyond whatIalready had.Ineeded to leaveDamonin the rearview mirror, and this impromptu girls’ trip was the doctor-prescribed remedy.NoZane, uninterrupted time withMom, counting cards, and some detective work in my downtime.Anemotion adjacent to optimism dared to flicker.Itwas the closestIhad taken to a positive stance in years.
Islanted my head, accepting her offer.
Momcheerfully clapped her hands. “It’llbe so much fun.”
“Soundsgreat,"Zanepiped in, scrolling through his phone. "I'llcharter the plane.Let’sleave onJanuaryfirst.Vegasis a nightmare onNewYear’s.”
Ifroze.MomandIhad forgotten about the obstacle in our relationship for a moment.Zanewould never allow his wife out of his sight.ThetripIenvisioned didn’t include the evil stepfather.I'dmuch rather stay home if it meant spending more time with him.
Momcaught the drift. "Er.Ithink this trip will just be forPoppyand me.Agirls’ trip, you know?"
Asexpected, tension emanated fromZane.Hestared atMomfor several moments before stating a firm, "That'snot a good idea."
Thetemperature in the room dropped by several degrees.Thetoddler's presence in the room restrainedMom’sdesire to lash out.Myfocus immediately shifted to the two-year-old.
“Stopit,Neil.Whyare you being so fussy?"
Hewasn’t.Neilwas a perfect gentleman and watched me with accusatory saucer eyes for throwing him under the bus.Sorry, little dude.Wehad to leave before the matter escalated.Acranky baby was the perfect pretext to escape unwanted situations.Addthat to the growing list of reasons babies were superior to adults.
Idropped my napkin on the table and rose to my feet withNeilcradled in my arms. "I'lltake him for a walk in the hallway.Maybeit'll calm him down."
Growingup, my parents never fought.Therewere no raised voices, passive-aggressive behavior, or even a whispered argument from the other room.Ourhome was the perfect concoction of tranquility, encouraging intellectual growth, the expansion of minds, and lively political debates.
Meanwhile,MomandZanewere addicted to the drama.Theymet in their early twenties, parting ways after a short-lived romance.Momlater discovered she was pregnant.Shecould have taken the easy way out, the path most twenty-one-year-olds would’ve chosen.Instead,Momkept me, eventually falling in love withPapaand marrying him.FollowingPapa’sdeath,Zanepursued a romantic relationship withMomand hasn’t left her side since.
Igrew up knowingZanewas my biological father, though my childhood was spared from his existence.Ihad never been more grateful for the fact.Witnessingtheir endless cycle of “fight and make up” as a child would have altered my personality.IfIwere raised in a household run byZane,Iwould’ve led with my naturally self-destructive tendencies.Twenty-one-year-oldPiyaMittalhad enough sense not to raise a baby with a tumultuous man likeZane.Sowhy couldn’t thirty-nine-year-oldPiyaTrimalchiosee things more clearly?
Momwas silent whenIexited the room, angrily jabbing at her food with a fork.Theywaited until we were in the hallway to start fighting.
"Youcan't stop me from spending time with my daughter."
"She’smy daughter, too,”Zaneshot back.
Momhuffed whileIsnorted.Zanehad no interest in me, only in keeping his wife glued to his side. “Poppyisn't exactly your biggest fan.”
