Winning the Heir Who Bullied Me
Chapter 97
“April.”
“April, please wait.”
“April!”
I stop in my tracks outside the library door and spin on my heels. Nathan’s face is tight, and his hand is stretched out toward me.
“Right,“–my voice sounds hollow to my ears-“your phone.” I hold the device out to him. But instead of taking his phone, Nathan catches my wrist.
“Let me explain,” he pleads.
I shake my head. “There’s nothing to explain. There was an error, I’m a mistake, and that’s that.”
I turn and try to walk away, but Nathan’s grip on my wrist tightens, and he tugs me towards him.
“April,” he breathes, his eyes searching my face. I wonder if it’s blank, mirroring the numbness I feel. “You’re not a mistake.”
My scoff lacks any energy. “But I am, right? That’s why you gave your parents that spiel to convince them to let me stay–not because I showed up with June, but because I should never have been here in the first place.”
Nathan’s face tightens. “April—”
“It’s okay.” I offer him a small smile.
It’s not, though. My presence here is an error. That means my friendship with Eliza, with Peter, June’s easy healthcare, my budding relationship with Nathan… They’re all one big mistake. They’re not mine to have, not fairly, anyway.
I lean up on my tiptoes and place a kiss on the corner of Nathan’s mouth. “You’ve had my back from the beginning, and I didn’t even know it,” I whisper. “Thank you.”
Then I pull my hand out of his grasp and return to the main house. Nathan doesn’t follow me.
***
“Are you crying?” June asks.
“What?” I wipe my face, feeling moisture under my hand. “Of course not.”
My sister rolls her eyes. “I’m going for an eight–hour school day, not on a yearlong voyage.”
I roll my eyes, too, poking her nose. “I’ll miss you if I damn well want to.”
“Eight hours, Spring,” she deadpans.
I huff, taking her hand. “I get it, you’re sick of me and are excited for a break.”
1/3
14:46 Tue, Oct 7
Chapter 97
She shrugs as we head out of the room. “I’m just thrilled to go back to school.”
She looks up at me as we walk. “But what about you, Spring? Aren’t you going to go to school, too?”
Her question makes something twist in my chest; the pain of my discovery yesterday is still fresh in my mind.
46
It hurt knowing we were only allowed to stay to boost the Ashfords‘ Image. But I think knowing I was a mistake to begin with hurts more.
“Don’t worry about me.” I squeeze June’s hand. “I’ll figure my stuff out.”
Outside the mansion, a car waits; outside the car, Isaac waits.
“Hey.” He waves when he sees us.
When he notes my confusion, he explains, “I’ll be escorting June to and from school for the remaining duration of the competition.”
I bite my lower lip. “You’re Nathan’s assistant. Why would you do that?”
He shrugs. “Assistants usually do what their bosses tell them, no?”
Of course this is Nathan’s doing.
“Thank you,” I tell Isaac.
He nods. “It’s no problem, really.” Then he reaches out and opens the back door for June.
I turn to my sister and lean down, unable to help fussing over her again. I check that her insulin pump is firmly attached to her skirt and that the adhesive on her belly is well stuck.
“I know you’re going to want to show off your new bionic feature,” I say, “but be careful, okay?”
She nods. “I will, don’t worry.”
“And you remember the rules?”
“Don’t overexert yourself, tell an adult the second you feel off, eat within the approved menu, don’t share meals, go to the bathroom and drink water as you need,” she drawls monotonously, shifting impatiently. “It’s ingrained in me, Spring. Can I go now?”
I stand and affectionately tug on one of her pigtails. “Yeah, yeah. Have a good day, Summer.”
My sister beams and hugs me briefly. “You too!”
Then she turns and practically dives into the car.
“Don’t worry,” Nathan’s assistant assures me. “I’ll discuss with the school authorities and get her absences waived.”
I smile softly. “Thanks.”
Although I can’t see through the tinted window, I wave as the car pulls away.
2/3
14:46 Tue, Oct 7
Chapter 97
:
46
I hug myself as I watch the car disappear down the long, winding road of the Estate. When I can no longer see it, I turn back to face the
house.
“Here we go,” I whisper, bracing myself to start the day. To participate in a competition I’m not wanted in.
“And finally, this is the dog park,” Vanessa Milburne, the director of Pinecrest Pet Sanctuary, says, waving her arm before her.
I swallow back a snort. ‘Dog park‘ is a great misnomer for the vast landscape in front of me.
Dog parks are usually not the size of golf courses. Dog parks have cute little lakes, not man–made waterfalls and streams. Dog parks have little benches, not extravagant outdoor furniture fit for afternoon tea with the queen.
What the hell does this ‘animal shelter‘ need a fundraiser for?
Valerie sniffs. “It’s passable.”
I roll my eyes. Not one thing has impressed her since we arrived at Pinecrest almost an hour ago.
Having been informed of our arrival earlier, Vanessa and the other staff welcomed us with glasses of iced lemonade to combat the hot weather.
Off the bat, Valerie complained because it wasn’t iced coffee. Then she said she didn’t like the pale blue color of the buildings. She thought the dog kennels and cat condos were too noisy. The petting zoo smelled. And, my personal favorite: the medical wing was too medical.
“Ignore the critic,” Lara says with a charming smile. “The park is perfect to host the fundraiser.”
Vanessa smiles. “Wonderful. Shall we discuss details in my office?”
“Lead th-”
“Lead the way!” Valerie interrupts Lara, eyeing her.
Unfazed and evidently amused by Valerie’s ostentation, Lara smirks and gives her a mock bow.
Valerie’s face turns red as she spins on her heels and follows Vanessa into the five–star resort masquerading as an animal shelter.
Chapter Comments
✩ 3
Write Comments
SHARE
