Chapter 60: Chapter sixty

PENELOPE

I've had bad days and good days. As one of the best divorce attorneys in the city, I've had my fair share of extremely bad days too. Today was one of those days.

My day had started off normal. I woke up, did some yoga exercises, and helped Joyce prepare breakfast. But my whole day was ruined when I got to work and saw the message waiting for me from none other than Charles McAlister.

Five days ago this sleazy sack of a man had filed for a lawsuit against Joyce, accusing her of being unfaithful in their marriage.

And now, he'd filed another one that accused Joyce of stealing from him before their separation. The bastard had used Joyce's orphan background against her.

The attacks weren't serious and could be easily countered in court. But the asshole clearly didn't intend to win the lawsuits. He just wanted to drag the divorce out and force Joyce to come crawling back to him. Or get out of paying alimony.

But I wasn't going to let that happen. Joyce had suffered enough with him. I was going to make sure to send his ass to jail.

I took a sharp turn and the huge mansion came into view. The sight of it reminded me of the second infuriating text I got today, as if my day couldn't get anymore worse.

My hand tightened on the steering wheel and I tried my best to rein my anger in. I needed every ounce of it for the conversation I was about to have.

I tried not to think of the many ways this could wrong. I could lose Drayton forever if I acted on my emotions. But it was too late. I was already here, and I wasn't going to back down. This conversation had been long overdue.

I swerved my car into the King's driveway and turned off the ignition. I didn't let myself consider the possibility that he might not be home. He had to be after that stupid text he sent me.

I got down from the car and headed into the mansion. I wasn't surprised by the lack of domestic workers. Most of them had either quit or got fired after Cassie's death. Jonathan King was that intolerable.

My heart stung as I walked further into the mansion. Despite the very expensive interior, it seems empty. Lifeless. This place had once been my sister's home. She built her family here. At one point, it had been my home too. But all that remained was an echo of what it used to be.

I ignored the deep ache in my chest and focused on the burning rage to center my thoughts. I came here to give Jonathan King a piece of my mind. I couldn't let myself soften before I even spoke to him. He would definitely exploit that one moment of weakness.

“And what, pray tell, are you doing in my house?”

I flinched as I heard his voice so close to me. I whirled towards the sound and there he was, standing so close with a grim expression on his face. I hadn't even heard him coming.

I allowed myself one extra second to center my thoughts before glaring at him. He simply stared at me with an unfazed and bored expression.

“What the hell was that about, huh?” I asked.

“If you're referring to the message I sent, I'm pretty sure the content was clear, but if you need me to explain it to you then I will. Drayton moves back in with me immediately.” Jonathan said in a calm and bored tone.

I scoffed. Classic Jonathan King behavior. The man clearly thought the world revolves around him.

“Drayton moving back here is not your decision to make. It's his. And he's perfectly okay living with me. Why don't you stop trying to bend him to your will and try fixing your relationship with him like you should have been doing for almost two years now?” I yelled.

I was breathless by the time I finished talking but I didn't care.

Jonathan rubbed his temple like he was getting agitated by my outburst. Good. I was angry too. I was angry about how this house and this family collapsed because of my sister's death. I was angry because all of this happened because of me. And I was so mad that I couldn't fix what I broke no matter how hard I tried. I wasn't Cassie, and I could never be.

“Listen Penny, telling you was just a formality. I wasn't asking for your opinion. I'm Drayton's only parent and I know what's best for him. What he needs right now is to come home. I'm not discussing this further with you.”

“What he needs is for you to leave him alone, Jonathan. Stop trying to force things on him.” I yelled.

“Well, I've done that for the past two years and what I got in return was a phone call about my son beating his teammate into a coma.” He scoffed.

My mouth fell open in shock. It took me a second too late to hide my reaction at the information. Jonathan definitely saw it.

“Of course, you didn't know. You've clearly been occupied with other things and can't take proper care of him anymore.” He drawled.

“He's not a child that needs taking care of. Drayton is a responsible adult that's capable of taking care of himself.” I sniped back.

“Then how do you explain the fight? Did you even know he's been kicked off the team and is skipping classes? It's only a matter of time before his grades drops and then what? Do you even know where he i right now?”

“Of course, I know where he is. The beach house.”

I hadn't questioned Drayton about spending a lot of time at the beach house because I understood the reason behind it. Cassie's birthday was drawing near. Drayton was usually moody around this time of the year and I always ensure to give him space.

That could also be the explanation for his recent behavior. What he needed was help from people who loved him, not to be placed on lockdown by the father he disliked.

But trying to explain that to Jonathan would be near impossible. He wouldn't get it. He never understood his son.

“Wow, good parenting.” He said, sarcasm evident in his tone. “You've had enough time to play parent, but you're clearly doing a terrible job. Drayton moves back in, no question.”

I didn't know which part of the sentence unleashed the new wave of anger, I didn't allow myself think before blurting,

“I'm not playing parent. He's my son!”

As soon as those words left my mouth, the atmosphere seem to drop a few degrees. Jonathan's face turned from slightly irritated to outright murderous. I've never wished I could take back my words like I did in that moment.

All it took was one swift move and my back was slammed to the wall, his hand wrapped tightly around my neck. His eyes was so red, it was almost like fire was burning in them.

“I told you not to repeat those words again.” He said in a cold and chilling voice. It was a huge contrast to the burning rage emiging from him.

His grip on my neck wasn't so tight to hurt, but it was firm enough to inform me he could. It was an intimidation technique I was familiar with.

I hid the fact that the technique worked on me and glared at him. I'd had enough of his stupid power plays. I let my anger override my fear and said,

“Or what?”

His eyes turned a deeper shade of red. For a moment, I actually thought he would choke me to death, but he removed his hand and stepped back.

“Are you going to threaten me about telling Drayton the truth? Well, I don't think so. Because the truth is that you are a monster. You lied to your family, lied to me. You destroyed your family, Jonathan. You killed my sister. You pushed your son away. You ruined my life.” Tears poured out of my eyes as I screamed.

I've never confronted Jonathan about the truth ever since it happened. I'd convinced myself that it wasn't his fault, but I was wrong. Everything that happened was his fault alone. And I was done carrying the blame for it.

“What do you think Drayton would do when he learns about what really happened to his mother?”

Jonathan didn't reply me. He didn't even look at me. I didn't let myself think about the pain written on his face. I was in pain too. I have been for the past two years because of him.

“He would hate me and probably distance himself from me, but he would come back when he realized I wasn't at fault. But you, he's going to want to kill you.”

I didn't know if I had imagined it or it actually happened, but Jonathan flinched at my last words. I had never seen Jonathan King flinch, not even when he was going through the worst moment of his life.

Maybe my words were too harsh, but it was the truth.

“Think about that the next time you want to threaten me or force Drayton to do something against his will.” I spat.

I spun around and walked out of the manor, leaving him in the aftermath of his destruction.