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In the old days, she’d have never chosen to wear something like this. Her preferred choice of clothes was baggy hoodies. She used to be shy and hated being in the limelight for any reason.
Her silky auburn tresses were replaced by soft, sunshine-blond curls. The color suited her, brightening the blue of her eyes.
My gaze shifted to her lips. They were painted a rich fuchsia to match the shade of her pantsuit. Her eyes were rimmed with dark eyeliner and mascara, almost hiding the softness of her eyes.
Nothing about her was the same as before.
She’d transformed from a shy, sweet college kid to a fearless, confident woman. Her attire wasn’t meant to attract a male’s lusty gaze but to warn him of the knives she could be hiding in her pockets.
My gaze shifted toward Dad.
He was practically glowing with happiness. There wasn’t a hint of surprise or confusion in his eyes.
Azalea Amhurst...
My mind whirred.
Milla disappeared five years ago without a word to us. We searched for her in the state as well as the country but nothing ever turned up. Most likely, she was being hidden by a powerful person, someone like our dad.
It explained the new name she’d taken up.
“Are you okay, Miss Amhurst?” Mr. Keating asked from down the table. “I’m sure Mr. Corey didn’t mean to surprise you like that.”
“No worries,” she said in a calm tone. “I’m sure he confused me with someone else.” A charming smile rose on her lips, easily relaxing everyone around the table.
The old Milla would’ve fumbled and turned a shade of peach from the embarrassment. Now, she blew away Corey’s advance like it was nothing at all.
Dad sat down in his chair. Mimicking him, she sat down on the other end of the table.
The managers, directors, and high-profile investors took the chance to ask her more questions. Did she find Silverlake City the same as it was in the past? Would she like to stay here in the future? Would she shift the headquarters to LA if she had the chance?
Milla answered everything with a smile and a calm tone. She assured everyone there would be no changes to the existing workflow at Amhurst Co.
I tuned them all out and glanced at Dad. He was proudly watching the way his protégé was handling the board of directors.
I still didn’t want anything to do with my father but the hate I felt toward him had dissipated over the past five years. The way he broke after Eva’s death cracked something deep inside me. I couldn’t hold onto any hatred or resentment against the man anymore.
I felt another shift take place.
Dadhadto know everything about Milla. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.
He knew where she was. He protected her and gave her the means to reach this position where she was sitting with me and my brothers and addressing the board of directors.
Five years.
For five years, my brothers and I tortured ourselves by incessantly worrying about her. She haunted our every waking moment, a living ghost between us.
Corey and Caleb blamed me for Milla’s disappearance. They hated me for driving her away.
This was the reason Corey couldn’t stand me anymore and challenged my decision over everything.
Anger simmered within my veins.
Dad could’ve told us she was okay andalive. He had the means to end our misery but he chose not to. Corey would’ve never turned into my adversary if he’d only let us know about Milla.
I glared at Dad, wishing I could shake him by his collar and demand an answer from him. How could he keep us in the dark this way? How could he let me and my brothers fall apart like this?
I looked toward my brothers. They were staring at her with the strangest looks in their eyes. Desire and sadness swirled in the depths of their dark green eyes.
