Katherine’s pov“You showed up fast,” I smiled as he shrugged and sat down while staring at me.I looked at my sleeping brother and arranged his pillows before setting down back.“I had to,” he said, looking around the room. His eyes laid on the pictures as he looked back at me. “I’m guessing that was your idea?”I shrugged. “It was. But I also wanted to make sure that you were okay.”I smiled at him as he looked around again. “I’m okay,” I told him. “Are you done here?”“Yes,” I said as he took my hand.“Then let’s get you home.”I followed him out while Grace bowed before us.***Renee’s povI couldn’t stay there any longer. I had been patient long enough and Zelda had done nothibg to help me get Dacre.The patience was killing me.There had to be something I could do.I remembered my friend from the past. An old man who had had a crush on me then. Now, he was just a distant memory. I knew he would be my best bet at this time.At least his chances of failure would not be that bad.
Katherine’s pov“You know what this is,” I said to him as I walked to the door and stopped.I turned to give him one last look.“You’re not a father anymore, you know that,” I said lowly. “You’re a puppet. And a shitty one at that.”His brows furrowed deep into his forehead and his jaw clenched. “Watch yourself, Katherine.”I scoffed at him and rolled my eyes. “Or what? You’ll finally start acting like a parent and punish me? You know… you let that woman walk all over you, steal from you, lie to your face and you still defend her.” I shook my head in disbelief. “Why are you doing this? Why are you letting her destroy everything we have?”He stood there gripping the phone in his hand. “That’s enough. Leave. And don’t ever come here threatening me again.”“Threatening you?” I laughed bitterly. “I’m not threatening you. I’m telling you the truth! But since you don’t want to hear it… Fine! I don’t care what happens to you anymore. Go on! Stay here with your wife and her perfect little fam
Katherine’s povMultiple loan applications.Signed under my father’s name.Some even had documents attached—pictures of our house deed… the cars… even the apartment we were standing in. All used as collateral. And worse, I found out that these loans had been taken out months ago, with none of the payments properly made.I was shaking in anger.“What are you doing with my phone?” she asked sharply, stepping forward.I raised my head slowly. “Why did you borrow all this money using Dad’s name?”Her eyes widened for a split second before she masked it with a scoff. “What the hell are you talking about?”I turned the screen to her, showing her the last loan transaction. “You mortgaged our house. You used Dad’s identity to borrow ridiculous amounts of money—and you put all our properties on the line. Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”She snatched the phone from my hand. “You should not go through my phone. You have no right.”“That’s your defense? You’ve basically committed fraud, an
Katherine’s povI got out of the car and stretched as I closed the door behind me.Grace came to my side. “Your father is paying rent for this place?”“He owns the building actually. So the tenants pay their rents to him.”She nodded. “That’s a smart move.”We walked up the stairs and soon got to his floor as I knocked on the door,It took some time before it opened up for us to see my stepmother there.She saw me and grimaced. It was very clear she was not happy to see me.I looked at her, studying the face I’d not liked since she showed up. “What?”“I want to see my father,” I said without flinching.Before she could respond I pushed past her and into the house. She huffed and banged the door close as she followed me in.“Being rude I see,” she said as I walked into the living room.The living room was just as I recalled. Small. Stiff. Cold. Like no one actually lived in it. Grace was already on the couch when I came in.“Where’s Dad?” I said, turning to the woman who still hadn’t t
Katherine’s povI took my seat at the dining table with Dacre to my left, Zelda across from me and Renee by her side. The silence was loud as the only sound was that of utensils. No one spoke. No one even glanced up.Unease had my insides squirming as I sat, feeling Zelda’s eyes on me now and then—they were cold and unnerving. Renee stared blankly at her plate as if she weren’t in this world. And Dacre… well, Dacre ate peacefully as if everything were normal.“How was everyone’s day?” he asked suddenly, his voice like warm caramel spreading out to fill the void we’d left.We all mumbled something. I couldn’t remember what I said. Maybe fine or something but it didn’t matter. As I had not even opened my mouth before Zelda tore into me with her dangerous stares.I ate for a while before feeling the oppressive silence on me as I scraped my chair back and got up.“I’ve lost my appetite,” I said as Dacre raised a brow. “I’ll be leaving for my room now.”Dacre glanced at me. “You alright?”
Dahlia’s povI was angry when she left. Filled with rage, who did that wench think she was to show up here like she owned the place.She had started showing a bump now and just because she was Dacre’s whore, she thought she had the same power he had.I fumed as I stormed into the living room in anger with Emily behind me.As I got in, I saw Henry watching his game and tossed most of what I had gotten into the chair as he turned to look at me.“Henry,” I snapped.He looked up at me slowly, his eyes tired. “Yes?”“Why was Katherine in the house today?” I wasn’t leaving this to chance. He would answer me and answer me truthfully. I needed to know why that wench was here. I needed to know if she was going to be trouble for me. I had to put her in her place at once if possible.“You left a couple of hours ago,” he said while looking from me to Emily and then the shopping bags.“I went shopping,” was all I can say.He scoffed. “Shopping? When we’re trying to save money? Dahlia, seriously?”