by Raquel Belle
“Except Abby,” Joe said.
“And the kid, Wyatt.”
“You sound like an insane person, Damian. I’m starting to worry about you. This isn’t going to end well.”
“It was never intended to end well, my friend.” Damian let out a breath and continued drumming his fingers on the desk. “To hell with it. If there’s no way to save the wretched house, I suppose Abby will just have to get over it.” If he couldn’t save the mansion with a few phone calls, he certainly wasn’t going to go out of his way to keep a roof over Celeste’s head.
Joe remained silent, his expression one of concern. Damian was going down a dark path—no, he’d been on that dark path for far too long.
Chapter Sixteen
Abby
Abby’s heels made a rapid staccato on the pavement of her apartment parking lot. She’d just got home from work and couldn’t wait to get out of the accursed shoes that went along with the prim and proper black dress which was so tight she could barely sit in it. Perhaps taking fashion advice from her sister hadn't been the best idea. But, at least they had bonded somewhat. That was why she was only half surprised to see Elaina’s ridiculously bright yellow Porsche parked up front near the entrance, with Elaina leaning against it…glaring daggers at her.
Cautiously, Abby continued her stroll in Elaina’s direction. She gave her car a glance over her shoulder, wondering if she should hop back in and hightail it out of there. By the look on her sister’s face, they weren’t going to be exchanging nice words.
“I don’t need this right now,” she said to herself. She forced out a smile. “Elaina, what are you doing slumming it in this part of town?”
Elaina’s scowl deepened. “I’m here to tell you that I’ll be homeless in a matter of days. I wanted to tell you to your face, so I could see your expression and see if you give a damn.”
Wearily, Abby rubbed her forehead. “Of course, I care. if I didn’t I wouldn’t have been sucked into this ridiculous plot.”
“Did you know that mom saw Henry today? They had a little chat. Apparently, the mansion will be taken in two days. Mom has been doing everything in her power to keep it, but it’s not going to happen. This is all Damian’s doing. That heartless prick.”
Abby’s heart sunk to the same level as the pavement. It was the thought of her mother and sister being kicked out of their home, but if she was honest with herself, it was mostly because each time she got evidence of Damian’s callousness, it was like a slap in the face. She’d never wanted people to be wrong about someone so badly. “I thought we had more time.”
“You thought?” Elaina laughed. “What the hell have you been doing, Abby? You should have gotten something on Coldwell by now.”
Throwing her hands up, Abby went on the defensive. “What do you think I am? Some professional spy? It’s impossible to find anything useful on him.” She did try a bit harder than she did in the beginning. The problem was, each time she set her mind to do better, she got distracted by everything that was Damian—the way he kissed her, made love to her, held on to her as if she meant something to him. Of course, she had no illusions that they were going to end up in some fairy tale romance, but it still felt good to be held, to feel secure, even it was false security.
“Look, Elaina, I’m trying. Okay? Damian has everything that might be useful under lock and key and he’s tight-lipped about everything.” Glancing around the lot, Abby added, “Can we please not talk about this out here?”
Her sister’s eyes narrowed. “No, we’re going to talk right here because I think you’re losing yourself with him, Abby. You’ve forgotten all about the mission.”
The mission. It was a wonder that Abby managed to keep herself from breaking out into a fit of hysterical laughter. Was she caught in a scene of a really bad spy movie? Things were getting way out of hand. Along with the responsibility of destroying a man, she’d somehow become responsible for keeping a roof over her family’s head…and it wasn’t fair.
“One, please don’t use the word mission like that. We’re not acting in a remake of Goldfinger. Two, I think it’s Celeste who should shoulder the responsibility of keeping a roof over your heads. Three, I’ve tried to get something on Damian. I’m still trying.” There was that laptop that she hadn’t gotten her hands on yet. The one he stared at just about every night she was with him. Most of the time, she didn’t make her presence known, she just watched him stare broodingly at the screen. She knew that what she needed was on that computer, but Damian didn’t let her out of his sight long enough for her to snoop.
Elaina glanced around the parking lot before letting out a snort. “Sure you've been trying. Trying to keep your place in Damian’s bed! Don’t think I haven’t seen him parading you around like a brand new toy, and you’ve been acting like a simpering slut. Get your priorities back in order, Abby, and do what you’re supposed to do to help our family!”
Anger, hot and raging, rose up inside of her. The temper that she usually tried to hold on to—where her sister was concerned—was about to snap. It had only been a matter time till she lost her cool, what with the mounting pressure of the mission she’d been tasked with, coupled with her ever-growing guilt and frustration. Nostrils flaring and eyes blazing, she took a step closer to Elena, finger jabbing at her inflated chest.
“First of all, I do not simper, and if anyone deserves to be categorized as a slut, it’s you, sister dearest. Get one thing straight, Elaina, you and mother are not high on my list of priorities. Why would you be when I’ve never held a place on yours? It’s funny to me how I’m suddenly such an important member of this family when it suits both of you.”
Elaina took a step back as Abby advanced. Abby had had enough, and she was slightly worried that the mounting stress of her situation had finally caused her to go postal, but she had no intention of halting her tirade. Hopefully, she wouldn’t give in to the temptation to reach out and throttle her sister. “You know what I think, Elaina? I think you’re extra-pressed because you’re jealous. I’ve managed to hold Damian’s interest, and you couldn’t. I know you two have history, according to mom.”
“I am not jealous. Over that cad? Get real, Abby, he’s just using you for his own amusement because that’s what he does. He’ll throw you out of his bed and his life once he gets bored with trying the new flavor of nerdy redheads.”
Abby ignored the sinking feeling in her gut and the dull ache in her chest at the thought of Damian letting her loose to move on to the next flavor, as her sister put it. She knew it was inevitable, but it still hurt to hear it out loud. “Well, if he’s using me, I’d say I deserve it. I’m not exactly with him for the romance either, am I?” Feeling extremely petty because Elaina had hit a sore spot, Abby smirked. “Still, I was able to hold his attention longer than you did it seems. He must have been turned off by the fake boobs and fake blonde hair…by the whole artificial being that is you, Elaina.”
Abby didn’t see it coming.
She was in too much shock to dodge Elaina’s blow when it caught her on the shoulder. Abby and her sister hadn’t physically fought since Elaina was fifteen and Abby was twelve. It had been an all-out brawl over Abby ruining Elaina’s favorite Chanel sweater. Never had Abby thought her sister would put her hands on her in adulthood.
Stumbling back, Abby cradled her arm. “Ouch, that’s going to bruise. Have you lost your mind? How old are you right now?”
“Don’t patronize me, you little shit.”
Unable to help herself, as always, Abby stood as straight as she could and said, “Oh my! What a big word coming from you. I hope you didn’t hurt yourself thinking of it.”
“You are such a little bitch,” Elaina said, advancing, forcing Abby to take retreating steps. “You think you’re better than me, don’t you? You always have.”
Batting away another blow with her handbag, Abby scoffed. “What are you talking about? How did we even get to this? We’re standing in a parking lot for goodness sake. Us fighti
ng like this is absurd. Aren’t you afraid you’ll break a nail or something?”
“You don’t even deny it. Since we were kids you’ve always thought you were better than me. Daddy doted on you as if you were his only daughter.”
With a shocked gasp, Abby stopped her retreat and put her hands on her hips. Thankfully, Elaina stopped swiping at her with balled fists. They stood toe-to-toe, with Abby at a disadvantage. She had to tilt her head up to stare up at her sister, and it irritated her. “How dare you say that? Who was the one who got every designer purse, shoes, and all the clothing she ever asked for? Daddy said no to me more than he did you.”
With a huff, Elaina folded her arms and stomped her foot like a petulant child. “But he respected you. He talked to you, shared things with you. Don’t think I didn’t know about your clandestine hang outs with him when mom thought you were in bed. He always thought you were so smart and so much like him. He just gave me everything I wanted because he saw me as some shallow airhead he wanted out of his hair.”
Abby cleared her throat and averted her gaze. If that was what their father truly thought of Elaina, it was only because that was the way she’d behaved. Abby desperately wanted to tell her that, but she restrained herself.
“You weren’t there to hear him brag to everyone who would listen about his beloved, intelligent Abby who was off to university in Europe,” Elaina said. “You were off to see the world, learn new things, have great adventures.” She deepened her voice mockingly. “That’s my Abby. Brilliant and thirsty for knowledge just like her old man.” Elaina threw her arms up in disgust. “You were always his favorite. You and Wyatt. I never could understand how he and Wyatt had butted heads almost every day yet he loved that little asshole more than he ever did me. I was nothing in his eyes.”
Stunned, all Abby could do was gawk at her sister. So, that was why Elaina made it her life’s mission to make her little sister’s life hell. Jealousy. Jealousy that was completely unfounded. Their father adored Elaina. They simply didn’t have much in common. Of course, Caleb would gravitate to whomever he could share things with. “If you really believe that, Elaina, then you really are as dense as you think Daddy thought you were.”
With a growl, Elaina balled her fist and swung. Ducking and throwing her arms up in defense, Abby squealed. “Don’t do it Elaina. Your show of incivility in public is not becoming of an Aldridge. That’s what mom would say.” The blow never came, and Abby let out a breath and straightened.
Elaina let out a humorless laugh. “Oh shut up you damn idiot. She’s not even your mother.” The second the words left her lips, she sucked in a breath. Elaina’s eyes widened, and she backed away. “Crap, that wasn’t supposed to come out.”
In a world of confusion, Abby stared at her sister blankly. After a few seconds, she laughed. “What, are you throwing out something that you think will hurt me? If so, try again. Six days out of seven, I feel like I’m not Celeste’s child.” When Elaina’s eyes began darting to every direction but at her sister, Abby’s senses were dialed to eleven. “That’s your guilty face. You rarely feel guilty about anything, but I know that face. You had that same face when you made out with that boy you knew I had a crush on.”
“Oh, get over it. He was too old for you anyway. Uh, you know what? Forget everything that was said here. I’m going.” Making a break for it, Elaina teetered on her stilettos in the direction of her car.
Abby reached out and grabbed her arm before she got too far. “Oh no you don’t. What’s going on. What do you mean, mom isn’t my...mother?”
“Abby …”
Abby tightened her grip. “What did you mean?” She knew there was something more to Elaina’s words than a mere attempt to hurt her feelings. The guilt and concern in Elaina’s eyes worried her. Concern and Elaina didn’t go hand in hand.
“Ouch! Alright, let go, no need to get so rough.”
“You threw punches at me, you were acting like a crazy person,” Abby said. “You got rough first. Quit messing around. Tell me what you meant.”
“Celeste isn’t your mother,” Elaina said, rubbing the arm that Abby released.
Blinking and attempting to process, Abby frowned. “If you’re going to try and tell me some bullshit that I’m adopted, don’t bother. I look just like Daddy and Wyatt. I even have some resemblance to you.”
“Of course, you do.” With a long sigh, Elaina turned to Abby. For the first time, sympathy gleamed in her eyes. “What the hell ... I’m so tired of keeping mom’s secrets, she’s been such a bitch to me lately so I’m going to return the favor. You and Wyatt are my half-siblings, Abby. Celeste isn’t your biological mother.”
There was a long pause as Abby scowled at her sister. “This is a new low for you. You ran out of insults, so you attack my parentage? And to bring Wyatt into this is uncalled for.” Elaina remained quiet with her gaze averted, which was even more cause for concern. Oh my god. Could Elaina be telling the truth? But how was that possible? Celeste was the only mother she’d known since birth.
“I’m sorry, Abby. You annoy me to no end, but I’m sorry it came out like this.” Elaina shrugged. “Maybe it’s time you knew the truth anyway.”
***
It was the fastest Abby had ever driven. More than a few traffic rules had been broken as she careened through the streets. Tires screeching, she turned into the circular driveway of her childhood home. She was vaguely aware of jumping out of her car with the engine still running, but her mind was in too much turmoil to go back and check. She found Celeste in her husband’s study, rummaging through documents and in the middle of a heated phone conversation.
“There has to be something, Henry. You were Caleb’s lawyer for years. Surely, you know about some money stashed somewhere.” Celeste fell silent, apparently listening keenly to what the lawyer had to say. Her lips tightened into a thin line. “Abigail? How the hell did he manage to hide that from me for so long?” Cold gray eyes pinned Abby in the doorway. “Speak of the devil. I’ll call you back, Henry.” She rounded the desk. “Abigail, I just learned some fascinating news about you.”
Tentatively, Abby stepped further into the room. “That’s funny. I just learned some fascinating news about you too.”
“Have a seat, dear.” Celeste gestured to the leather sofa that had brought Abby comfort for so many years.
The saccharine tone sent a shiver down Abby’s spine. Clearly Celeste was up to something. “I’ll stand,” Abby said. In the event that she had to make a run for it. Her mother—who might not actually be her real parent—could be vicious.
Celeste’s jaws clenched, and her blonde brows dipped. “I’ve come to the understanding that your father left you some money. A trust that you’ve had access to for the last five years. Now, why wouldn’t you tell me about something like that, Abigail?”
Abby sighed. Damn Henry. The rat bastard discovered the paper trail. Shoulders squared, Abby met Celeste head on. “It seems we all have our secrets don’t we, Celeste? I’m an adult. What my father left for me is none of your business.”
“We’ve been struggling, and you’ve been sitting on money. Selfish girl. If I don’t pay a certain amount of money to the bank, we’ll lose the house. Since you’ve failed to get me what I need to force Damian Coldwell’s hand, it’s only right that you hand over whatever funds you’ve been hiding.”
In the midst of her fury and hurt, amusement bloomed in the part of her brain that used humor as a coping mechanism. Abby’s laugh spilled out and danced around the room. “You are a piece of work you know that Celeste? First of al,l you’re losing the house. If you recall, I moved out of this place years ago.” Her eyes swept her father’s office where she often returned for solace, and sadness filled her. She’d miss the single room and the memories it held but she’d have to let it go. “The money that was left for me won’t cover the cost of this place, and even if it could, I wouldn’t simply hand it over to you. I’ve decided that most of that money is going to Wyatt anyway.
I bet you haven’t thought about how he was going to finish school or even survive. And the only selfish one here is you. That’s why your own husband chose to leave me that money because he was aware that you think of nobody but yourself.”
Abby stood her ground when Celeste rushed forward in a swirl of wrath. “How dare you talk to me like that? I’m your …”
“My mother? But, is that a fact, Celeste? The fascinating news that I just learned is that you never birthed me or Wyatt.” She tapped her chin. “I’m quickly starting to realize that it’s not such a bad thing. You’ve never behaved like a mother to either of us, anyway.”
With a deadly calm that frightened Abby—a fact she refused to show, Celeste pulled in a deep breath. “So, Elaina couldn’t keep her mouth shut. That stupid girl.”
Abby’s heart sank. It was true. With all of her nonchalance regarding Celeste’s lack of affection for her over the years, deep down she’d always wished for her love. It was clear now why she never received it the way Elaina had. Elaina was Celeste’s, she and Wyatt were not. Swallowing the lump in her throat and trying to sort through the fog of confusion that muddled her brain, she shook her head. “But … how?”
“Your father couldn’t keep his dick in his pants,” Celeste said. After I gave him a child, Elaina, he still couldn't leave your slut of a mother alone. I allowed him to keep his mistress without argument for a while, but he was rising in society, putting us more in the public eye. It had to stop. I warned him, but that didn’t work. I gave him a child, and that didn’t work either. When I found out that his whore was pregnant with you, I went through such lengths to cover it up because the wench refused to have an abortion. I even disappeared for months under guise that I wanted seclusion throughout my pregnancy. Yes, I pretended that it was me who was pregnant with you. I demanded that your father take you and raise you in our home, as if you were mine. If people knew otherwise, the Aldridge name would be a joke, as well as my family’s name. I couldn’t allow that kind of scandal.”
