“You don’t look a day past eighty,” I declare.

Her glare should’ve melted me on the spot. We engage in a short staring contest before she returns her gaze to her book. The room sits in silence with only the sound of pages flipping breaking through now and then. Outside, a few colorful birds hover around a feeder until a black crow settles on the top and scares them away. One of the gardeners comes over with a broom to clear the black bird away but the small birds don’t return. The crow has spoiled their feeding spot and no one feels safe.

I turn back to Gran. “I heard that the Duke of Caron is having a boating party next weekend. He bought a new 600 foot yacht that he plans to sail from Nice to Monaco.”

“The Duke of Caron is trash. He bought that title like he buys yachts,” she snips.

“Much like our family bought everything in this house, yet we pass it off as artifacts of our superiority. I’m certain that the new ship will feel luxurious enough that the new money smell won’t make you sick.”

Her mouth tightens to the point of disappearing. “I’m too ill to go.”

“Then you’re too ill to stay on as the chairperson of Willits.”

Her head snaps up. “So you finally get to the point.”

“You knew what the point was the minute I found Darby.” I allow some of my anger to seep through. “I’m done with you. Either you go or I do and if I go, that will be the end of Willits. Melody has no interest. You don’t trust Dad—“

“With good reason,” she interrupts testily.

“With good reason.” I shrug. “So who will it be? Mason Page from Finance? Reese Templeton from Marketing?”

“I will cut you off,” she declares. “If you walk away because of that—“

“Careful. Don’t say something you’ll regret,” I warn.

“Something I regret? I regret I didn’t send the girl to Alaska! I regret I didn’t marry you off when you were eighteen! I regret everything!”

I push away from the windows and start toward the doors.

“Where are you going?” she cries.

“You’re having a tantrum. Melody always says it’s best to ignore a child when they’re having a fit. You’ll wear yourself out and when the storm is over, we can talk like reasonable adults.”

“The storm will never be over!”

“You don’t say.” I leave the doors open as I exit. In my suite, there is shit everywhere. George gives me a sheepish smile when he sees me at the door.

“It’s taking some time, Mr. Willits. You have a few years of life invested here,” he says.

“That’s fine, George. Take your time. It doesn't all need to be packed away today. Do you have my cases ready?” I’d asked for just a few pieces of clothing so I wouldn’t have to order anything right away. Darby can fill out the rest of my closet.

“Yessir.” He proudly rolls out a large trunk. “It’s all prepared here and I have someone picking it up in an hour.” His face falls. “We will miss you dearly, sir.”

“What is going on here?” demands Gran from the entry.

“I’m moving out.”

“You already have a penthouse.”

“But, at your request, I’ve always kept space here with the understanding that I’d bring my family here—which I’ve done, but they’re not welcome, so I won’t be back.”

“George. Unpack all this,” she says imperiously.

George freezes.

“No, George. Keep packing. I’m done here. With all of it.”

“What do you mean?” Gran cries.

“I’m not going to play your games. You hurt Darby immeasurably. You kept me from my own son. You can forgive me today but tomorrow you’ll demand other things. And I’m done with it. Cut me off. I’ll build a new company with my family and we will be happy while you will sit in this mausoleum with your pilfered antiques and rot away in loneliness.” I pocket my keys, nod my head at George and fly down the stairs. The shackles of the Willits empire weighed heavily on my shoulders and now that I’ve made my decision to leave, I feel like I could lift the entire house. My pace picks up, nearly running to my car. I slam it into drive and speed down the long driveway. I should have left years ago. When I met Darby, I should have taken her away instead of trying to force her to fit into the mold that Gran had decided we should all fill. That was my mistake and I almost lost Darby. Now that I have my second chance, I won’t waste it.

Chapter 20

Darby

“I could kill her,” Melody says for the tenth time since I’ve gotten to her house.

“She’s not worth the jail time.” I pick up my lemonade, taking a long drink. I missed this. Not as much as I missed my Jonas, but I always loved coming over to see Melody. Veronica was like a niece to me. I can’t count how many times we talked about me having a baby. Someone for Veronica to play with. I’ve missed so much, which is a hard pill to swallow, but I can’t dwell on it.

“They have missed so much time together.” Melody reaches out, giving my hand a squeeze. Echoing my inner thoughts. “We’ve missed so much time together. And for what?” I can see the tears brimming in her eyes.

“We’ll make it up.” I watch Veronica and Jax play together. Veronica thinks she’s gotten herself a new baby doll. She’s been all over Jax since we walked in the door. “I hope they are as close as Jonas and you are.” I’ve always loved their relationship. Melody and Jonas have a bond that can’t be broken. It didn't matter what their gran wanted. I always admired Melody’s strong spirit. She’d gotten some of that from her gran but unlike her, she had a heart.

“They will. I have no doubt about that.” Melody smiles, looking out into the backyard and watching them play in the giant wooden playhouse. It’s almost big enough to be a real house.

“Jonas built it. He was here whenever he wasn't working or looking for you. He would do anything to keep busy. It hurt me to see him that devastated while trying to deal with the loss of you myself.”

“What is wrong with your gran? Why would she do this? This is beyond hate.” She’s even cut Melody out of her life for the most part. Melody's husband told her to do whatever made her feel happy. Even if it meant separating herself from her gran. It baffles me that Gran has all of this family right here but she doesn't care about them. Family is all I’ve ever wanted. There is no price tag you could put on it.

“As much as I hate her sometimes, other times I feel bad for her.” I nod in agreement. She has no idea what she’s missing out on. No matter how much I do hate her, I’ll always be thankful for her giving me Jonas and Melody. “I’m just glad you’re back. When we thought we lost you, we lost him, too.”

“I promise you, I’ll never willingly leave Jonas. I love that man.”

“I know that.” Her bright blue eyes that match Jax’s and Jonas’ fix on mine. “It’s why I thought you were dead. I know the way that you two look at each other. I see it every day when I look at my own husband.”