Chapter 1: Emilia's POV

I watched as my father’s casket was being lowered into the ground. My eyes were dry. I had no more tears to cry, I had shed all the tears while he was at the hospital.

I barely knew anyone in the somber ceremony, maybe that’s why they were more concerned with paying their last respects to my mother Pamela Thompson who had abandoned us for years, rather than me who had lived with the man all my life.

My eyes didn’t leave her for a second, as she played the character of a grieving widow, a handkerchief dabbing at eyes that refused to tear up.

Couldn’t anyone see her for what she was?

As soon as the ceremony was over, I didn’t spend another moment. I didn’t care to shake hands or accept pitying looks. I went straight back home.

Back home, I sat on the edge of my bed, holding a framed picture of my father and me. My fingers traced the outline of his smiling face. He had been my whole world. And now, he was gone.

The door to my room opened moments later, and Pamela majestically walked in.

“We need to talk…” Pamela said, her eyes cold and unfeeling, a glass of wine in her hands.

“I have nothing to say to you. When you’re satisfied, you can leave just as you came. I’ll be fine without you just as we were fine without you.” I replied, looking her straight in the eye.

She didn’t need to try to get in my good books. I was going to be fine here without her and I didn’t need her to play the fake mother role now.

“Oh dear, You’re coming with me, back to California.” Pamela smirked, sipping on the glass of wine.

I let out a bitter laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding me right? This is my home and I don’t have to go anywhere with you.”

I dreaded the idea of going anywhere with this woman. I barely knew her, she left us alone for years and now that Dad was dead, she thought she could come here and boss me around.

That is never happening.

“You don’t get it, do you?” She laughed dryly, her sinister eyes locked in mine. “I don’t have to force you to do anything. You’re going to do it voluntarily and even beg for more instructions.”

What the fuck?

I narrowed my eyes. “Why would I beg you for anything?” I asked.

“Well, for one, your father was very forgetful.” Pamela started, tilting her head.

I clenched my fists, she was lucky she was my mother.

“And in his forgetfulness, he forgot to update his will after we parted ways. So, technically, I own everything after his passing. From the house, to the company...every single thing he left behind. Can you beat that?” She laughed again.

My stomach twisted.

My fists clenched. “No… that’s not possible. He left me everything. The house and the business.”

This wasn’t happening to me.

Pamela laughed again, a cruel sound that made my blood boil.

“If you think I’m lying, ask the lawyers. The bottom line is, you don't have much of a choice. Everything is in my name and so you’ll have to do exactly as I say if you want to at least keep the house.”

My heart sank, this house was the only place that held memories of my dad. And now she was threatening to take it away from me.

Pamela downed the rest of her wine and set the empty glass on my nightstand. “I’ll leave you to pack your bags. We leave for California tomorrow.” Pamela turned triumphantly.

My phone buzzed on the bed. I reached for it, it was Tyler, my boyfriend.

Relief washed over me.

I wondered how I’d explain the situation of moving to California to him. Maybe he could help me find a solution.

I didn’t even bother reading the text. I called him instead.

He picked on the second ring.

“Babe, I…”

“There’s no need to try to beg me,” he interrupted. His tone was flat, emotionless. “The relationship between us is over, I just picked this call so you don’t see me as cruel.”

I blinked, then checked the caller ID again, to be sure I didn't misread the name.

This was Tyler? My Tyler.

“What?” My voice barely made a sound.

“The relationship is over, Emilia.” he repeated.

I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me.

What does he mean by the relationship is over?

“Tyler, babe. I don’t understand what you’re talking about, what exactly is over. What do you mean?”

“Didn't you get my text?”

“I didn’t read it! Did you just—did you just freaking break up with me over a fucking text? On the day of my father’s funeral?” My voice was tensed but low.

There was a long pause before he sighed. “Listen, don’t make this harder than it needs to be. We’re both adults and if I’m not feeling it anymore, I can always say I’m not.”

My mind spun.

What is he saying? Two days ago he was here. Right here in this room. Holding me. Kissing my forehead. Consoling me.

“But you didn’t feel this way two days ago, Or even yesterday,” I said, my voice shaking. “You were here in my house, in my bedroom and you were your usual sweet self. What changed?”

“I don’t want to talk about anything else. Just let it go and leave for California..”

Just let it go?

Something immediately clicked in my brain.

California?

“Wait… how did you know I was supposed to… Are you breaking up with me because of my mother? Did she get to you?”

Silence

My mind raced, this didn’t make any sense. Why would she make Tyler break up with me?

My breath hitched. “Tyler?”

“Why would you agree to that? You said you loved me, we’ve been together for years and all of a sudden. You’re breaking up with me because of my mom?” I raised my voice.

“Look, just leave for California.”

Click.

The line went dead.

Tyler hung up the phone.

I tried calling him again but he wasn’t picking up my calls. I sat there, staring at the phone, my fingers trembling as I opened the text.

Emilia, I’ve been holding this in for a while, I think it’s time we went our separate ways. I’m no longer interested in being weighed down. So this is it. Don’t take it the wrong way.

I swallowed hard.

I read them once. Then again.

There was nothing I hated more at this moment than Tyler.

He hadn’t even fought for our love, one sign of resistance and he was already out of the door.

I sat there, motionless, as the sun slowly gave way to the moon.

My father was gone, my mother now owned everything and was going to make me live under her thumb and now the only person I felt was still mine had broken up with me—abandoned me.

I felt powerless and trapped.

I wanted to drown out my sorrows, forget that my life was a mess, completely ruined.

So I dropped everything and grabbed my car keys, I hurried out the house before Pamela could see me.

The world as I knew it, was a shit hole, but I wasn’t going to sulk or cry anymore.

I just wanted to lose myself, and I think I know just the perfect place to do that.