“Merina. How can I know these things? You’re aware I cannot have you in the room for long, correct?” Andre knew he’d failed as a father to her for far too long. He didn’t know how to raise his daughter alone. Andre struggled for years with grief for his first wife. He’d failed as the husband or father. Lillian said it didn’t matter. She’d been fine with him, gone often. The reason he’d married her was to give Merina a female figure. Someone who understood her changing needs. Lillian twisted everything. Andre never suspected she’d fed him lies. From secret lovers, to using money earmarked for Merina’s welfare and future. Lillian lived with him as his wife while she sought her next husband. Now she wanted to empty his accounts and gain a controlling interest in his business. Lillian wanted to gut his financial portfolio even as she gutted him. “Why is that? You didn’t want to hear me.” Merina sat there and watched her hands. Merina’s words penet

Galen had a rough night sitting in lockup. He wasn’t used to people pretending to ignore him. Or treat him like a nobody. He was a James connected to the well-known MacGregor family. But here, no one cared. He’d never felt so humbled before and he didn’t like it. He attempted to avoid talking to anyone else in the cell they’d thrown him into. But he now struggled with the conflict his fear, anger, and ego gave him. Not that he’d admit to having any if they asked. What irked him the most is he wanted to call his mother right now. His mother could solve any problem he faced. But he didn’t want to look weak, however, what else could he do? Right now, he could do nothing. No one would allow him to call home because they hadn’t booked him in and on the official record there. He knew Joseph Mandala was in a cell nearby. Galen didn’t know everything they were charging him with. He recognized it as more than just an assault. Because his bail went up with th

When her father at last left, Conner rounded on her where she stood. He walked over to her. But he said nothing. He heard the outer suite door close behind her father, and she assumed Ian was. “That was petty Merina. You have changed and I don’t like it.” His disapproving stare had Merina turning her eyes away from him. “Well, shit happens Conner. You changed too.” Merina said. Her words were a mere grumble. Conner took her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him. “Oh, no. You understand this isn’t how it works. You aren’t allowed to feel misery. Real or imagined. I say what happens. This ends now. Your father has nothing to do with your life any longer. The man you should concern yourself with is me. Do you understand?” “Tell me how to make you happy.” Conner could see Merina now understood her place. They were standing where he’d last taken her. In front of the mirror. “Kneel. You need to learn a bet

Merina wasn’t angry about Galen being charged with assault for trying to kiss her. Merina was unhappy about how the charges had happened. They didn’t ask her about her preferences. Or how this would affect her. She felt glad that Conner took her phone. It meant Lillian couldn’t call her and yell at her. Lillian couldn’t stalk her either. One would think blocking a person’s contact information would stop that person in from their mission of being miserable to her. But it didn’t. Lillian didn’t get the hint and stopped bothering Merina. Instead, Lillian would enlist family friends and family to help enforce her point. Then add in, she would put pressure on as many people as necessary to make it beneficial to overlook Galen’s charges. Merina knew of several times his charges disappeared, so Lillian would leave the official alone.While they left Merina to fend for herself if she ended up in trouble. Her father claimed she was mistaken about that. But she went from

Merina hadn’t noticed as Conner followed her into the lobby. Her goal was for Lillian to throw a tantrum, leading to her removal from the station. That way, Lillian could not gain Galen’s freedom. Then they’d leave without her interference. She saw this wasn’t as easy as it should have been when Conner stepped in, as if he were an avenging angel full of righteous wrath. His voice deepened a fraction, and his eyes flashed in an open display of his anger. Merina noticed he exaggerated his anger with a stormy expression and raised voice while talking to Lillian. It’s what he said to Lillian that had Merina stunned. She didn’t know if she’d ever become used to people defending her. Merina found it odd, wondering if he would correct himself to match her reality. He threatened her with an indirect threat. Nothing he said could cause Conner to receive any charges or being sued. But everyone knew Conner’s words weren’t said on a whim.