006: FIVE PERCENT SHARES

~~Selene~~

“Five percent!” Vivienne exclaims. “That’s enough to get Selene a seat on the Manchester group’s board. It should belong to me, grandpa. Will you let her take it all for herself?"

It’s the evening after the engagement. We’re all seated in the large living room of the Vaughn villa after receiving a notice that I will be receiving five percent of the Manchester group shares. My family isn’t taking this information well.

“You have always wanted to get those shares, Father,” Uncle Victor says to grandfather. “Don’t you find it unfair that Selene got them without even lifting a finger?"

My fingers curl into my laps. I school my expression, desperate to keep my composure intact. How could they be so cruel? They threw me to the Manchesters the first chance they got. Now they want to take my shares, the only thing I am getting from this marriage?

“I think Selene should keep it.”

Everyone turns to Aunt Astrid, shooting daggers at her as soon as the words leave her mouth. She shrugs with an air of uncertainty. “She’s getting married to Rain Manchester in Vivienne’s place. She deserves some compensation.”

“I made that happen,” Vivienne yells. “If I didn't create that scandal in the first place, she wouldn’t be getting married to him. I should be getting those shares in her place.”

My lips quiver. I look at grandfather, waiting to hear what he has to say. He has never been on my side before, but it will be different this time. There’s no way he agrees with them.

Right?

He clears his throat, meeting my gaze squarely. Even before the words leave his lips, I already have an idea of what he’s going to say. That knowledge does nothing to quell the heartbreak I feel once the words are out, though.

 “Selene, I think you should give up the shares.”

My hope crumbles. I dip my head, feeling tears rush to my eyes. I don’t know why I expected him to stand up for me. He has always cared about everyone but me.

“You’re just twenty three,” he goes on, adjusting his glasses thoughtfully. “I think this responsibility is way too much for you.”

I blink back the tears, trailing my gaze to each of them. These people are my family. We have the same blood running through our veins, yet they have caused me the most pain. I was a fool for thinking they would change.

“I’m just twenty three?” I echo. “You think I am too young to own shares in the Manchester group, yet you don’t think I am too young to cover up for Vivienne after she created the scandal.”

Vivienne purses her lips, her expression devoid of remorse. I have no idea if the others know that she planned this whole thing to get me out of the family. They probably do, but they don’t care. Everything she does gets a pass from them.

“You are disgusting,” I let out quietly. “You all are disgusting.”

Grandfather furrows his brows, shock clouding his face. “You have no right to speak to me in that manner.”

“I do.” I rise to my feet, the bottom of my dress bunched in my fists. “Why do you hate me so much? Why do you never care about me? What have I done to deserve this treatment from my own family?”

They all go quiet. At least they have the decency to. There and then, I make a resolve. This is the last time I'll see them as family. As soon as this wedding is done, I will cut off all ties with them. As soon as I get reunited with my mother, I will make them pay for this treatment.

“Those shares belong to me. If anyone wants them, you’ll have to kill me first.”

With that, I storm out of the house, straight to the underground garage.

Coming here was a big mistake. I have always stayed away from the family villa. I only returned because grandfather thought it was a good idea to stay here until the wedding. How am I supposed to live with these people for two more weeks?

But just as I try to press down on the car remote, a familiar voice floats into my ears.

“I just need a little more time. Why can’t you understand that?”

Ethan is in the lot, leaning against his black Mustang as he speaks into his phone. His voice is laced with desperation. Fear.

“We agreed on a timeframe. Why can’t you just understand that.” His voice drops to a whisper. “Look, I have landed a really good goldmine recently. You will get your money if you give me more time.”

Who is he speaking to? Why does this seem so fishy?

No. Ethan's family is wealthy. One of the richest in Raven Heights. There’s no way he’s in debt. But that is exactly what this conversation is telling me.

I shouldn’t care. He betrayed me, cheated on me with my cousin and set me up. There’s no way I still care about him.

But it’s been eight years. Eight years of loving him. I can’t just bury my feelings overnight. As much as I hate to admit it, it would take a long time to get over him. 

So when my legs drag me towards him, I don't resist. He sights me from the corner of his eyes and lowers the phone. “Selene,” he calls, panic coating his voice. He shoves his device into his pocket quickly like a child caught stealing candy. “What… what are you doing here?”

“I should be asking you that.”

“I came to see Vivienne.”

“Oh!” My chest tightens.

How much more stupid can I be? Did I really expect Ethan to come running back to me? He chose Vivienne. He made that clear. I need to have some self respect and accept that.

I purse my lips, fiddling with my car key. I turn away from him and try to get in the car.

“I heard you got some shares from Roman Manchester.”

My hands freeze in front of the door. I draw in a deep breath, forcing a smile before turning back to face him. Will he also ask me for his cut of the shares?

“I did. Why do you ask?”

I wait for an answer, but Ethan stays silent, his nerves acting up. He slips his hands into his pockets, evidently struggling to string words to form a sentence.

“Selene, I know things ended pretty badly between us, but I'm willing to make it up to you.”

“I don’t want you to make it up to me.” I sound surprisingly calm compared to how I feel inside. I can’t get the image of him and Vivienne out of my head. It will haunt me for as long as I live. I want to feel that rage and remind myself of the asshole he is.

“The shares, I think I deserve a–”

“What’s going on here?” Vivienne's high pitched tone cuts in. She walks towards us, heels clicking against concrete.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Selene? Are you trying to seduce my boyfriend?”

“Vivienne, no,” Ethan tries to intervene. “It was none of that.”

But she doesn’t listen. She folds her arms across her chest. "It's not enough that you have snatched the shares meant for me. You want my boyfriend too.”

How can she be so shameless? 

“You had Ethan for eight years,” she drawls, her eyes filled with disdain. “Isn’t that enough?”

For a moment, none of us speak. The underground garage seems to close in on me. The fluorescent lights cast harsh shadows on Vivienne's face, highlighting the pure distaste on them.

Ethan exhales. “Vivienne, stop.”

“No,” she snaps, turning to face him. “You were talking to her alone. What am I supposed to think?”

Silence.

A bitter taste creeps up my throat. I didn’t expect her to be insecure after snatching Ethan, but she is, greatly so. Irritated, I pull the car door open and zoom off.

She has to be delusional to think I'd want him back. My self respect will always be greater than my feelings. 

My thoughts drift to Ethan's phone conversation. I can’t shake off the feeling that something is wrong. Before I can push further, my phone breaks the silence in the car. I pick up, connecting it to my car stereo. 

“Selene Vaughn.” A voice fills the car. “Guess which gorgeous woman is back in town.”

My breath catches. “Kiara?”

“In the flesh, baby. Now tell me why your engagement photos are all over the internet before I catch the next flight back.”