Chapter 116 YOU ASKED
CHAOS.
Dread.
That was all I felt the moment I stepped into the palace and received the news.
This was heavier than any storm I had ever faced. I had been summoned earlier, and when I got here, I instantly knew that something had gone wrong.
Something was really wrong.
My mother... was dead.
Grief had a way of sneaking up on you, and right now, it was more like a cold, suffocating fog than something I could wrap my mind around.
My mother’s death still didn’t feel real. Even with everything she’d been going through, I couldn’t bring myself to truly process it.
I didn’t expect anything better from my father, but when he called me in, I knew it was about to get worse.
My feet dragged as I walked through the palace halls, heading for my father’s office.
As I reached the door, I took a deep breath before turning the doorknob. The tension in the air was instant and my eyes searched the room, finally landing on my father, standing by the window with his arms crossed.
I walked closer and stood a good distance behind him, wondering if he was feeling the loss of my mother too.
She had been his wife after all.
Regardless of how terrible of a husband he was.
I wanted to bury myself into a hole and disappear, let the grief take full control.
I didn’t want to be here.
But I couldnt leave.
Not yet.
When he turned to me, his face held the usual, all-too-familiar look of controlled authority. His eyes were blank and I didn’t think he had shed a single tear.
“You’ve heard the news, haven’t you?” He asked.
I wasn’t in the mood to talk so I just nodded, barely choking out the words. “Yeah. I’ve heard.”
“We must move on from this,” he said, moving to sit down.
Move on, he said?
Everytime I came here, this man never failed to remind me of why I hated him in the first place. He didn’t offer a hint of sympathy, not even a glance that showed he gave a damn about the fact that I’d just lost my mother. Instead, he got right to the point of this meeting.
“You’re still a prince,” he said, almost like it was a reminder, as if I needed it. “And you’ve been acting out of line, Cormac.”
I clenched my jaw, hearing him say my name like that. I tried to hold the anger down, but it was like it exploded out of me. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Merrielynn Fortner.”
My frown immediately dissolved into shock and confusion.
Panic seized my chest.
How…?
“So she’s back, isn’t she?” He asked, looking straight into my eyes.
I didn’t say anything.
Didn’t deny it.
Just stared back.
“There’s been rumors flying around,” he continued, looking out the window again. “Rumors about you two being romantically involved… again.”
“Please, let her be,” I found myself unable to say anything else,scrambling for how to rectify a situation that felt like It was rapidly slipping from my control. “She still doesn’t even remember who she is.”
My father’s expression didn’t change, but his voice hardened. “You know, I’ve always wondered where she’s been all this time. If she’d actually remained in the foster home. It’s interesting to realize that she has been with you, under your protection, in your school, and you hid her from me, forgetting that your sister deserves justice.”
“You already took your justice!” I barked out, “You killed her––"
“I honored your sisters memory!” He bellowed, “Something I’ll never regret. Something I’d do all over again if given the chance. And you boy, have given me the chance.”
“Lorelai would not want this!” My voice cracked on a roar.
“Hold your tongue!” My father thundered, anger lining his features.
But it didn’t last.
I didn’t know how he did it, but his face became calm the next second. “What would you know about what she would have wanted when you’re busy fooling yourself with the girl who killed her?” He asked in a low voice.
His words hit me in the chest like a rusted knife.
“Merrielynn is not…” I went silent because my father now had his hand up silencing me.
Normally, I would ignore him, but this has been my biggest fear since Merrielynn entered into my life again.
I didn’t know how he found out that she was inPinnthorpe, but I knew that he did now. All I was worried about now was that I might not be able to protect her from the justice he believes she escaped years ago.
He suddenly got up, wearing that disappointed look in his face that would make any one feel small. But I met his gaze and held it, showing him I would not let him harmher.
“You disobeyed me, Cormac,” he said, his voice void of emotion. “You’ve spat on your sister’s grave,” he added.
I flinched.
I had to admit, those words hurt.
“But I’m willing to overlook your disobedience,” he continued with a sudden smile.
I narrowed my eyes at him, wondering what he was playing at. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that the girl can graduate from Pinnthorpe, attend university and even chase her dreams,” he clarified.
I stood quietly, waiting for the catch, because I’ve known this man all my life and nothing ever came at the cost of nothing.
“No harm would come to her but all of this would be on one condition,” he said so casually and I scoffed inwardly.
Of course, there was a condition.
“What?” I asked impatiently.
My Father walked over to me, standing right in front of me when he answered. “You’ll have to let her go, Cormac,” he said.
My frown deepened and my mouth went dry as he laid it all out, dangling her future in front of me.
Fuck.
Why did this have to come at a time when Merrielynn and I were finally living our best lives?
When... I’d just lost my mother?
I needed her.
Why did my father always have to interfere in everything that concerned me?
“And if I don’t?” I blurted, weighing my options.
Father smiled again and he turned his back to me, returning to stand behind his desk. “Well, I’ll help you deal with this problem then,” he finally answered.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“You’ll lose everything, Cormac. And so will she,” he threatened. “I’ll make sure of it.”
I swallowed, knowing this was an ultimatum.
He wasn’t asking.
He was commanding. And I hated it.
I had spent so long trying to protect Merrielynn from everything—her past, the pressure, my father. But now… now it seemed like I had to choose.
And I wasn’t even sure what my options were.
“What do you mean by saying you’d help me with the problem?” I asked, just to be sure what the threat was.
He answered without hesitation, “I’ll kill her.”