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"Thank you for sharing your opinion on what you believe is right for my family," he says, his tone as cold as his gaze. “But I don’t give a fuck what you want, Marshall. The only person who matters to me at the moment is Bel.”
All I can do is shake my head, turning my attention back to Bel. She hasn’t learned how to master hiding her emotions and it’s clear she’s pissed from the blazing flames of rage in her eyes.
"Excuse me, but you don't get to make these decisions for me. This is my life now and I have just as much right to be here as you do."
It has nothing to do with right and everything to do with belonging, but she doesn’t understand that.
"No, you don't. You aren't part of this world, Bel. You're too..."
She arches a brow. "Too what? Too naive, too female, too...what?"
"Good. You're too good for this."
I swallow hard as I admit it because it's almost like admitting she's too good for me too. Which I know is the truth, not that I've been willing to give her up despite knowing that.
“Whatever. I won’t stand here and argue with you about whether I should be here when I already am. I’m a big girl, Drew. I don’t always need you to worry about me.” She shoves past me, and Sebastian follows her, completely ignoring me as he passes to enter the house.
Fucking Christ. The desire to destroy something pulses through my veins like a second heartbeat. I’m so angry with myself and Sebastian. I didn’t mean for her to take it the way she did, and now I can’t do a damn thing but stand by and watch her enter the lion's den. More guests filter in, and there is no doubt my father will be looking for me soon.
Fuck. I don't need this. Now I have to babysit that asshole's fucking mood as well as keep my eyes on Bel to ensure she's safe. I trust Seb to stand by her side, but there will be parts of this shit show where he'll have to talk to people she doesn't have any need to speak to. I just fucking hope Seb knows the difference by now.
Turning around, I find her without thought and stare at the bare expanse of her back, all that creamy smooth skin on display. Why the fuck did he let her wear that dress?
Someone approaches me from the side, and I can't remember his name, so I just give him a sharp nod and snag a class of something brown off a passing tray.
"Andrew, you're looking well."
Dammit. I don’t remember this fucker's name. I think he does something with guns. The majority of these fuckers do. I shake his hand and nod again.
"Call me Drew, please."
He smiles, and his gaze bounces around the room. "Good turnout. I'm a little surprised, considering some of the rumors going around."
Consider me interested. "Rumors?"
He nods toward Seb and the other heads of family gathered in the room thus far. "Yes, the rumors about your father."
I try not to look as interested as I feel. "What sort of rumors?"
Is this what I need? Can it be this easy?
He shrugs. “As his son, you can’t tell me you haven’t heard them yourself. I’m sure it’s nothing more than gossip.”
“Possibly, but I can’t confirm or deny what I don’t know.”
“Right, yes. Well, some members of the family are worried about your father’s mental state and if he should be in the seat he’s in, given your mother’s deteriorating health.”
I grit my teeth. “Understandable. I can see the concern, but please tell whoever is spreading such rumors that they should speak with me if they have any issues.”
“Of course.” Smiling, he walks away, leaving me cursing softly under my breath.
I don’t give a fuck what people say about my father, but I refuse to allow them to drag my mother into this and soil her name.
I thought maybe the guy would share something juicy and useful with me that I could use against my father, but of course it would never be that easy for me. None of them are just going to hand me what I need to take down my father. But now that I've thought about it, it's something I might be able to get out of Sebastian. We haven't exactly been friends for a while, but he might know more after this meeting.
I scan the crowd searching for Bel. She's smiling at a woman wearing a red dress and seems okay, but I'm itching to cross the room and talk to her. To check for myself. I know better than anyone that words can hurt her just as much as fists can.
They exchange a few words and then Bel heads toward the bathroom off the foyer. I move to follow just as another man cuts out of the crowd, prowling right behind her.
