AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t need anything,” Milla said, pushing around a piece of mushroom around her untouched steak. Why wasn’t she eating? The steaks were delicious and perfectly cooked, something I was sure she rarely ate.
“What about a new laptop?” Dad urged. “You can pick up the best one. You’re already too busy with school and work. Going to the library is an extra hassle you don’t need.”
Even my brothers stopped fooling around after hearing Dad. He’d never said anything caring like that in our entire lives. After mom’s death, he passed all responsibilities to the maids and valets.
He never even cared when Caleb was suffering from pneumonia when we were thirteen. Our housekeeper refused to let me call him saying he’d fire her if we disturbed him.
No one in the house cared about how scared Corey and I were with Caleb so sick. Sure, they called a doctor and nurses to watch him, but no one was around to say anything reassuring to us. Corey even thought his twin would die and wept all the time.
I felt disgusted with myself.
We weren’t kids anymore. These daddy issues shouldn’t be messing with our heads.
“I can get the laptop next week,” said Milla in a low voice. “With my next pay, I’ll have enough to buy one.”
“You’re getting one on Saturday,” Dad said in an authoritative tone.
“You also need a new dress, hon,” said Eva in a coaxing tone. “It’s been such a long time since we went out and had some fun. It’ll be just us girls.”
“I don’t need a new dress,” Milla said at once. “I’m happy with the clothes I own.” For a moment, she glanced at Corey and Caleb who stared right back at her and sniggered between themselves.
A sliver of jealousy wrapped around my throat. My brothers were already close enough to her to be picking up on secret jokes.
“We’ll have an official announcement of our marriage on Sunday,” said Dad. He gazed all around the table. “Clear your schedule, boys. You’re going to be at the party too.”
“What party?” Milla blurted at once.
“It’ll be a celebration of our marriage,” said Dad. “The whole world must recognize my wife and my daughter.”
“Is that really necessary?” Milla looked desperately at her mother.
“It is,” said Eva firmly. “Brian is going to adopt you. The day deserves a real celebration.”
Corey choked and started coughing. Caleb rubbed his back, glaring at our dad.
My patience was running thin too. Why the hell did he have to go that far?
“But I’m twenty-two already,” Milla spoke up. “I don’t need to be adopted.”
I agreed with her completely. Adopting her legally meant he’d give her a share of what was mine and my brothers.
Dad’s company wouldn’t be what it was today without all the money Mom invested in him. She worked equally hard to get our businesses up and running.
No one had a claim overherthings. Not even Dad who mistreated her every day. Other than me and my brothers, no one deserved a portion of what she left us.
“I know that but it’ll mean a lot to us if you agreed,” said Eva. Her brown eyes, so different from Milla’s, shone with tears. “Agree to it for me, Milla. This is the last thing I want from you.Foryou. I want you to have a family.”
Eva was either a mind-numbingly stupid woman or one cunning bitch. She didn’t bring up the subject of property or money. She was using sentimentality to secure her daughter’s future.
Milla glanced at me and was met with my cold gaze. She shuddered, knowing how I felt about the issue.
Suppressing a shudder, she swallowed and looked down at her barely touched food. “Could I be excused, please?”
“Milla!” Eva gasped. She turned pleading eyes toward our dad.
“Are you okay, sweetie?” Dad asked with a concerned look that I’d never seen on him before.
Milla nodded. “I just need some air.”
