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She turns her gaze on me, and an admiring look comes into her eyes. "You certainly took care of yourself, Quentin. You’re more handsome than when I last saw you."
"And your heart is every bit as ugly as the day you left us," I bite out.
Her face falls. "I… I’m back."
"You’re not needed here. Like you weren’t needed the last time you decided to pay me a visit. What happened? Did the money I transferred to your account run out?” I growl.
“She paid you a visit?” Felix jerks his chin in my direction.
“She did. And it wasn’t the first time, either. Each time she approached me, it's because she needed money. Each time, I offered to take her to you, but she refused. She's had no interest in seeing you.” It’s going to hurt my son to hear this, but I can’t keep the truth from him anymore.
Felix’s face falls.
Shiloh’s expression grows mutinous. “Is it necessary to tell him that?”
“It’s the truth.”
The color drains from Felix’s face. “Is... Is it, mother?”
“Tell him,” I scowl at her.
Shiloh throws me a venomous look. But when she turns to Felix, her expression turns soft again. “I’m sorry. It was too difficult for me to look at you. It brought back too many memories, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to cope with seeing you.”
“Too difficult for you?” He shakes his head. “Are you kidding me? You left me when I was a toddler. Now you’re back, and I learn that there were opportunities for us to have met but you never took them?”
She takes a step in his direction.
He holds up his hand. “Do you know how many times I have dreamed of this meeting? How many times I imagined the moment I’d come face-to-face with my mother? The number of times I looked at your picture and wished I could see you in real life? I was sure there was a reason you never came to see me. In fact, I was sure he”—Felix nods in my direction— “paid you to stay away.”
What the— I open, then shut my mouth, deciding to stay quiet. Felix has enough to deal with.
“Turns out I was wrong.” Felix narrows his gaze on her. “Though apparently, he was paying you, after all.”
“I had no other means of income. I am your mother. He”—she glances at me then back at her son— “he owed me.”
“Any debts I owed you have been paid off.” I cross my arms across my chest. ”I have nothing left for you.”
“You have billions.” She waves a hand in the air. “What’s a little more? If you could send me an allowance until he turned twenty-one?—"
“You gave her an allowance?” Felix looks shocked.
“—you could continue paying me for a few more years.” She flutters her eyelids. “Just until I get back on my feet.”
“My answer is the same as the last time you asked. Read my lips. It’s a 'no.'”
A sly look comes into her eyes, then she blinks, and it’s gone. As slippery as ever, this one.
"I…" She swallows hard. Her features take on an expression of sadness, one I don’t believe at all.
"I want to make amends,” she pleads.
"A little too late for that. Next?"
Her chin trembles, and if I didn’t know her better, I’d almost believe she's contrite.
"I… I’m sorry I left you. I… I didn’t have a choice.” She wrings her hands.
"Bull-fucking-shit, and if you think I’m buying your nonsense?—"
