Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 164705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164705 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 824(@200wpm)___ 659(@250wpm)___ 549(@300wpm)
For the first time in my life, I left my mother behind and not vice versa.
Chapter Seventy-Eight
Briar
“Did you ever manage to pay back all the people who sued you?”
The question came from Felix, who still wore his frown as he sliced the bloody filet mignon on his plate.
I choked on my tofu stir fry – props to Ollie planning in advance for my food restrictions – and swung my gaze between Jason and Felix. Jason coughed into his napkin, clearly uncomfortable.
“Nearly there.” He reached for his glass of water for a big gulp. “It definitely did a number on me. You know how that is.”
“Hardly.” I perched my chin on my knotted fingers. “Felix is a legitimate businessman, not a grifter.”
“Jesus Christ, Briar.” Philomena rattled her utensils with her shock. “This is your father you are talking about.”
“I already told you.” I sat back, twirling noodles onto my fork with a grin. “He is not my father.”
Jason dropped his glass of water, his mouth falling open. His stare ping-ponged from me to my mother, full of silent accusation. Felix and Agnes exchanged glances.
Did I just make the night very awkward for everybody? Absolutely. But they’d just have to deal. While I wanted to save face in front of the von Bismarcks, the Auers didn’t deserve any good will. I wanted the world to know their sins. After tonight, they would never be able to take advantage of the von Bismarcks.
“I have no idea—” Philomena started, ready to deny everything through her teeth.
“Please, Philly, give it a rest.” Oliver cackled beside me, clutching his stomach. “I was there when you snuck out to the stables with your little boyfriend, Cooper. Briar and I both heard you. Sebastian did, too.”
At the mention of his brother, Felix flinched. Agnes gasped, so soft I almost didn’t catch it. I couldn’t imagine how painful it must be for Ollie to believe he’d brought this big tragedy to his family.
“It’s time to come clean and let Briar know who her father is,” Oliver continued, tossing a hand toward Jason. “Because it sure as hell isn’t this guy.”
“Oliver.” Agnes shook her head, patting the corners of her lips with a cloth napkin. “That is very unkind.”
“Yes, well, so was the way they treated Briar all those years.”
“This is beyond the pale.” Jason shot up, turning as red as a tomato. “To bring this up in a public setting—”
Now I shot up, too, balling my fists and parking them on the table. “I would’ve broached it privately if you ever answered your goddamn phone.”
Agnes drew a hand to her chest, then brought the back of it to her temple. “Oh, dear.”
She would faint soon, if this escalated. For people who birthed two full-grown soap opera addicts, the von Bismarcks hated drama.
I hadn’t come here prepared for an ambush, but now that I had the rare opportunity of Philomena and Jason’s presence, I’d be dumb to miss the opportunity. I needed answers. Desperately.
“Briar, this is ridiculous.” Philomena fanned Agnes with one of Jason’s tiny business cards. “I don’t know what you think you heard—”
“I can just hire a private investigator,” I cut into her lie with one of my own, knowing Oliver wouldn’t blow my cover. “A herd of them, actually. I can definitely afford it now. So, it’s either the truth in the privacy of this home, or I go public. You may be broke, but you still care enough about your name to avoid dragging it through the mud.”
Philomena and Jason exchanged looks and fled back to the drawing room to discuss their decision in private. Agnes and Felix deflated in their seats. He buried his face in his hands.
“I … I’m so sorry.” Agnes’ fingers fluttered to her pearl necklace. “I had no idea you and your parents are in such bad shape, Briar. This was supposed to be a pleasant surprise.”
“It’s one out of the two, that’s for sure.” I sipped on my wine. “But I’m not upset with you. Either of you two. In fact, I’m sorry I made a scene. I just didn’t know when else I’d have the chance to confront Jason and Philomena. I also loathe the idea of them trying to take advantage of your good will.”
“I always had an inkling, you know.” Felix massaged his temples. “You are very different from both of them.”
“Sweetie.” Agnes patted my hand, and in that simple gesture, she shattered my bravado like a thin twig. “I want you to know that, regardless of your relationship with my son, you always have a shoulder to cry on with me. You can always come to me for anything.”
Her face twisted in regret when she noticed my tears. They dropped from my lashes to my cheeks with a splash. Sometimes, I’d sit in cafes I couldn’t afford, watching families interact around me, wondering what it felt like to experience something like this. A pat on the hand. So simple. So small. And yet … everything. The tiniest gestures always lingered the longest.