“Sir,” my bodyguard approached with a team. “Your parents want you home immediately.”
The row of men behind him made it clear they’d drag me back if necessary.
Back home, my father greeted me by throwing a teacup. I dodged instinctively as it shattered against the wall.
“Ungrateful son!”
His finger trembled as he pointed at me. “Kneel!”
I knelt before him expressionless. Since childhood, his word had been law in our house.
Any hint of defiance would send him into a rage.
My knees ached, but not as much as my heart.
“What have you been doing? Neglecting the company, losing your mind over some woman. What have you become!”
Growing angrier, he raised his hand to slap me.
“Richard!” My mother, who’d been silent until now, rushed to shield me. “Talk to him if you must, but don’t hit him!”
“You! You’ve spoiled him rotten!”
Dad glared at us both, his voice full of disappointment. “You’ve coddled him since childhood, and look at him now!”
“A grown man in his twenties, thinking only about romance!”
“Don’t you know who the Williams are? Why provoke them?”
I pulled Mom aside, arguing back, “Daniel started it!”
“Everyone knows Sarah was mine! He deliberately pursued her – he’s clearly targeting me!”
“You dare talk back!” He slammed the table. “What exactly was your relationship with that woman?”
“I…”
I realized miserably that Sarah and I were never even officially together.
When she wanted commitment, I’d dismissed her, thinking of Emma while looking down on Sarah’s background.
Now that I wanted a real relationship with her, she no longer needed it.
“Just as I thought!” Dad sneered. “You think I don’t know what you’ve been doing?”
