Book II - 6

AUDREY

“Come home, Audrey. Dad is waiting for you to come home. He’s dying, you know.” Anton stared back at me sincerely. He called me to meet him at the restaurant across from the Stark office building. I was hesitant at first, but I was curious about what they had been up to.

My half-brother had grown thin in the past months. His eyes darkened, his skin paled, and his voice croaked. His eyes looked fatigued after working almost twenty-four-seven. According to my source, Linda, our housemaid who didn’t leave Anton and Samuel, still worked under the new landowner at the vineyard. They sold all our properties, except for my mother’s house, and our money was wasted on some bad investment, and of course, Dad gambled.

“Look, Anton. I don’t know how you found me or who told you where I am. I’m already guessing that it’s Chelsea, but I’m not coming home. I left, even though Dad was sick. And I’m sure he’s not waiting for me. It’s impossible.”

“I don’t know how long you keep running away.