Chapter 20

Chapter 20 

Kent's POV 

My eyes went from my grandfather to my father and back again as I stared in disbelief. I didn't want to believe that they were forcing my hand so badly but it was clear. There really wasn't a choice for me. 

As I drew the contract to myself, I kept my eyes low. If I stared any longer then I was sure I would burn them with my gaze. 

My hands shook with rage as I signed across the dotted line, possibly a deal that I would regret. 

No. 

I knew for sure that I would regret it. It wasn't worth it, signing away every thing for a girl that I didn't care for. Even now as I signed the paper, there was only one name on my mind and it wasn't Freya's. 

As soon as I was done, my father took the contract from me. They all had a satisfied look on their faces as they read the signature. 

“That wasn't too difficult now was it? It's all you had to do and now you're free to go" Arthur dismissed him. He didn't even glance up to spare me another moment. 

This time, I didn't hold back, I just couldn't any more. "You brought me home from work for just this?” 

He looked at me, a brow raised in challenge. "I did”

Nothing else. 

Without another word, I stood up. I didn't care as the chair scraped on the tiles. "I'll see you another time” I simply said before exiting the room and heading towards the kitchen where I knew I would find my mother. 

She was there, saying something to the cook when she looked up and spotted me. "That was fast,” she told me once she was close enough. 

"Did you know?” I couldn't help but ask. 

She shook her head slowly, "I didn't know. You know your father doesn't share business with me and definitely not your grandfather” she smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. Every time they treated her like nothing but some sort of design that just sat there. "I just guessed from the tension in the air”

I nodded, "It's alright, is my food ready? So I can head back to school”

She gave me a look, "You know this is your home as well right? You can stay a day or something. You haven't been home in too long”

I shrugged, "It doesn't feel like home any more. Not with everything that keeps happening. I'm not even sure I can sleep with my eyes closed in this mansion” I was hardly doing that in my own home anyway. 

She sighed but didn't argue any longer. "Bring his food,” she said to one of the maids. 

Together, we walked to the car where the maid placed the food in the back before leaving my mother and I alone. She smiled up at me, something in her eyes glistened but I didn't know what. “I can't believe how much things have changed" 

I glanced down at her, “Like what?" 

“Everything. You, your father, your grandfather, the future we all envisioned" she didn't look disappointed but I could tell she wanted more. “I didn't know that one day you would be a professor and not the businessman your father has always wanted you to be” she shook her head, a smile on her face. 

This time, I couldn't help but smile at myself, "Oh mother, father himself already knew” I shook my head, opening the door and stepping inside. 

After we said our goodbyes, I left the garage, pulling out of it while she walked back inside. The only thing I did on my way back was think about what had happened in front of my family and what I had signed over. 

The more I thought about it, the angrier it made me. 

Daniella's POV 

School, the next day came by pretty quickly and already the effects of the allergies had worn off. The dizziness had disappeared and I was healthy enough to go to school. As I approached my locker, one image rested in my mind. 

The image of him coming closer and then suddenly going away. As if he had made the choice last minute not to come in. I hated how much I still wanted to tell him, still wanted him to choose me over her and that I was still trying again. 

“There she is. You would have thought she died the day before with how dramatic she was being" a small voice said from behind me. 

I didn't turn but instead felt my whole body stiffen. It didn't get easy the worse I got. They always found a new way and something else to do it again. It was becoming annoying. 

Suddenly, his voice came from beside me and I froze, “Why did you get so dramatic huh? Acting like you were dying out there in front of everybody" Gareth asked. 

My hands beside me balled into fists and I didn't move. The anger in me kept rising and I couldn't help myself, “Because I was nearly dying." I turned slightly towards him, “You knew what garlic does to me Gareth" 

He stopped, not a word more but quickly recovered, “I didn't know shit Daniella. What are you saying now? Are you trying to blame it on me?" His voice had risen a little but with each octave higher, my annoyance increased. 

I decided to hold back, “Nothing" 

Her raspy voice came from the other side of me, “No, I would like you to educate all of us, Gareth and myself. Tell us how it could be our fault before you need to explain to the school" she leaned directly into my ear, “Or the principal" 

My eyes darted to meet hers but didn't hold that gaze much. I couldn't believe it and I didn't want to believe it. “Please I'm so-" 

She hissed, the tone of her voice stopped me, “I didn't ask you for an apology. I asked you to tell him and I hope it was any of our results" 

Suddenly, that flare of anger rose again. That moment when I had seen the smiles on their faces and when Gareth had stood over me in the cafeteria. It had been clear what he really thought about me and now this. 

There was no hesitation again. 

“Yes, he knew what happened before"