Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that if there was nothing in the press, it was Lucian Manwarring’s influence, not Mary Astrid’s.
Mary helped herself to a heaping portion of scrambled eggs and several sausages. As she piled the food onto her plate, she continued to speak, “But we need to act fast, darling, because rumors are already swirling.”
The ice in mummy’s glass rattled with her agitation. “What do you recommend we do?”
“The best way to avoid a scandal is to change the narrative. Give everyone something else to talk about, of course.”
I rolled my eyes, then immediately regretted it as a sharp pain exploded in my head. I groused, “Excellent. Remind me. Did that work well for you when your notorious affair and bastard DA son came to light?”
My mother waved her hand in my direction. “Romney, behave.”
Mary Astrid narrowed her gaze. “As a matter of fact it did. After all, I still have plenty of money.”
Touché.
My father ignored the entire debacle by burying his nose in the New York Times. As if this entire fucking mess wasn’t his fault. Damn useless man, investing the entire Zeigler family fortune in a ridiculous Ponzi scheme.
Mary Astrid licked her fingers after eating a greasy sausage. “Don’t worry. I have a plan. Romney, how good are your acting skills?”
CHAPTER 27
CHARLOTTE
“Hey, Charlotte! Ready to Rock Bach on a Boat?”
I smiled as Ginnie greeted me with the silly name of the charity fundraiser.
Dressed in a beautiful black dress paired with combat boots and an incredibly dark smoky eye, she strutted over to me. I loved how she could always pull off the most daring looks that would seem ridiculous on most people but were always edgy and flawless on her.
“In a moment,” I said, eyeing Hunter, who, after setting my cello on its stand, had made himself scarce.
He was currently standing on the edge of the stage, keeping an eye on the crowd. Watching me, but also giving me my space and privacy.
He was doing precisely what he should have been, the same way Reid was supposed to but never did.
It made me hate Hunter a little more. It wasn’t fair or deserved, but it was what it was.
“Can I ask you a few personal questions?” I asked Ginnie, lowering my voice.
“You can ask, but I can’t promise I will answer.” She shrugged and sat on the metal folding chair, crossing one leg over the other. Her massive combat boot looked like it was going to slip off her dainty leg any second.
“How did you do it? Was it worth it? How hard was it to survive? Would you do it again?” The words tumbled through my lips, and I couldn’t seem to stop.
“Do what exactly?”
“I know who you are,” I said. “I know you come from a family like mine, and you gave it all up, and I want to know why and if it was worth it,” I said, slumping down in my own chair.
“Oh, that.” Ginnie’s eyes widened with understanding. “No, it wasn’t easy. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. Not everyone who comes from money, especially not the kind of money my family has, would survive that kind of lifestyle change. Sometimes, I still miss the life I led, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Look, I don’t know your specific situation, so I’m not going to tell you what to do. It’s a huge decision, and the only way you can live with the decision you make is if you are the one who makes it. I can tell you that if you give it up, it will be hard in ways you don’t even know. You will have to learn how to budget your money and fend for yourself. That means having a job, or sometimes two, learning to cook, getting your own apartment, and you will even have to shop and probably clip coupons. Also, I hope you like ibuprofen and potatoes. Both will become a staple in your life.”
“Is it worth it?” I asked, needing someone to tell me what I already knew in my heart.
“It is if you love what you are gaining more than what you are giving up. If the love of your life is Birken bags, then no. And no judgment. There are some things I didn’t know I would miss as much as I do. But if you love something more than anything else, and that is what you are giving it up for, then yes.”
“What was that important to you?” I shouldn’t have pried, but I couldn’t help it.
“My music. Not just this.” She motioned around the room. “Don’t get me wrong. I love classical music, but my passion is playing cello in my metal band. It makes me feel things that I didn’t know people could feel. The music moved me, and my family didn’t understand it. They gave me a choice, and I decided I could try living without the money, but I couldn’t live without the music.”