CHAPTER THIRTY SIX: The Game Changer

The blaring alarm sounds woke me up as I rolled over in the huge bed to reach the tip to switch it off. Letting out a loud sigh of frustration, I look at the empty bed again, and a pain surges through my heart. It's been three days now since Cassius has been avoiding me and won't even sleep in the same room with me. He has been sleeping in the guest room. I already realized that I was the one at fault and even called Dad, who explained the reasons why they did what they did.

Part of me really does not want to believe him because I had always known Emelia to be their favorite kid, and Mom always compared us to each other, telling me to be like her for once. And now I learned they sent her out of the house to protect my own happiness or perhaps to ensure this alliance was successful because they had the most to gain from it as the Aldriches had made a full investment in Dad's company and Mom's gallery. They both claimed they did it for me, but I really doubt that because the truth was,