Disturbing truths

"No," I immediately protest. "I can't believe I'm here having this conversation with you. I have told you that I will do my duty, but I will do it in my own time. I'm not going to force anyone to do anything or cut babies out of wombs. You told me Revean is mine, and I plan to have her by my side forever, just like you told me I could do all those years ago." I'm so nervous my hands are shaking.

"You're so weak," my father snorts.

"No, I'm strong because of my mother. She gave me some humanity and the ability to know right from wrong. You've never been a father to me. Not once have you ever allowed me to call you by that word. I am nothing more than an employee who is told what to do. I understand my place, Mr. Snow. You will have what you want, but so will I." I gesture toward the door again. "Now, please leave. If I have to take Revean to the ball next week, I have a lot of preparations to make. She is still little more than trailer trash in many ways. Something that is your fault. Something you didn't realize could damage our family's reputation. Revealing her to our rivals is a risk. It could even lead to her being taken by one of them overnight. We are not the only family interested in her inheritance. Even if I get her pregnant, she could be miscarried or an accident could cause a miscarriage, and a marriage can always be annulled."

"I shouldn't have let your mother soften you up. Maybe her death so young was a blessing. There's no telling how weak you would have been if she had still been around," my father replies.

"Get out of here." I don't want this man near me anymore. I'm going to do something I will seriously regret if he doesn't leave immediately. "Revean will be at the ball, but everything else is on my terms. You have waited a long time for this. A few more months or even a year won't hurt you. You'll get your money, but I want you to know this, power is earned, not bought."

"I'm already the most powerful man in Las Vegas. I just need the money to solidify my position," my father growls at me. "Watch your position, kid, because I can take everything you have if you don't do what's required of you."

My father shakes his head at me, disappointed, before walking away. I turn around and throw a punch against the wall, shattering the plaster around it.

"Fuck!" I yell out loud.

"Okay, I think you need to calm down." Andrew's voice comes from behind me, "Did you hurt yourself in any way?"

I pull my hand off the wall and check for broken bones by flexing it. Blood coats the knuckles, but I can move all my fingers.

Turning to look at Andrew , I wipe the blood on the jacket of my dark gray tailored suit and reply, "No, is Revean okay ? Did he hurt you?"

"He wants to see you. I think she needs an explanation. She's upset." Andrew looks down the hall to where Revean's room is . "Why don't you do what your father wants? I've seen you do worse things in the basement. All you have to do is get married and fuck Revean , and he'll get everything he wants. You can go back to being the quiet, aloof man who works himself to death and doesn't let anyone get in his way. It's a lot easier to protect you, and it'll mean I'll have a lot less mess to clean up." He points to the hole in the wall behind me with his head.

I shake my head and let out a tired laugh. "That's the thing about this whole situation, Andrew . The reason it's fucking crazy. I don't know why I can't do it. I just know I can't because my feelings for her are changing. And that scares me more than anything else in my life."

REVEAN

"You promise me she didn't hurt you?" Mery looks all over me. "He's a vile man, not that I'm going to tell Eliot or Andrew what I think. He gives me the creeps every time he's near me. I see a lot of my father in him."

I reach out to take Mery's hand and reassure her that I'm okay. I know her father abused her and, seeing how Mr. Snow bossed her around, I wouldn't put it past him to do the same if he had the chance. I can't help but wonder how Andrew and Eliot would react if that happened. They both care a lot about Mery from what I can tell.

"I'm sorry he pushed you." I feel bad that Mery keeps getting hurt because of me.

"Don't worry about me, Revean . I've suffered far worse. I'm more worried about you."

"I'm fine, really. Although I'm more angry with Eliot now . Your father informed me of some things I should have been told from the beginning, but Eliot neglected to mention them."

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that the only reason Eliot wants me is so he can get his hands on a bunch of money when he gives birth to his biological child.

"Did he tell you about the will?" Mery looks at me, biting her lip nervously.

I let out a long sigh of frustration. "Am I the only person who doesn't know? I thought this was all about revenge, not money. It makes everything different."

"How?" Mery looks at me confused. "Revenge or money. It sure doesn't change anything. You're Eliot's no matter what. He'll never let you go."

"It makes all the difference. My father killed his mother. I can understand his hatred for me, and his need to punish me as my father's only surviving relative. But carrying out that punishment for money is not something I can accept. That's not revenge."

I let go of Mery's hand and, sliding from the bed, straighten my clothes. Now I'm ready to face Eliot .

"I understand. I think I even agree with you. But don't be too hard on Eliot . The fact that he refuses to marry you on his father's terms suggests to me that there's more to it than money."

Mery gets out of bed just as Andrew and Eliot appear in the doorway.

"Mery , come and help me unpack," Andrew addresses his wife. "We have a new painting and we need to find a place to hang it."