Blossom in Winter (Blossom in Winter #1)(103)

Tess Hagen





“Petra, I’ve spent these last fifteen years helping women escape abusive relationships and marriages. You’ve got to get out now. It’ll get worse if you wait until later,” I say, feeling like I’m suffocating.

Pfff, how easy it’ll be for Van Dieren to abuse Petra. She’s always seen him as her caring, protective, and beloved godfather—one she trusts entirely. How convenient for him to turn it into his advantage. Of course he wants to marry her! She’s such a different kind of prey—a woman never touched before but by him. That possessive asshole wants to make sure she belongs entirely and exclusively to him, just like a rare, expensive toy. I know it’ll be harder for Petra to leave him once she becomes Mrs. Van Dieren. And even worse, once she has kids. The women most reluctant to report their husbands to the police or take them to court are mothers.

I imagine Petra must be his biggest trophy. Dear Lord, banging the barely legal daughter of his best friend without Roy blinking an eye, just because he promised to marry her afterward sounds like the most disgusting misogynist transaction ever. Like a property ownership trade between Roy Van Gatt and Alexander Van Dieren. God, what wouldn’t he do to feed his unmeasured ego and pleasure?

“Oh, Mom, stop! Can’t you see I’m happy with him?”

I’ve had enough. I’ve seen this over and over again—the young virgin lured by an older man with a gentle smile. “You’re not happy, Petra. You are brainwashed. Drunk. Delusional. Manipulated,” I yell. “This isn’t love. At eighteen, no healthy girl thinks about marrying a forty-year-old heartbreaker!” I take a deep breath. “You won’t marry him, and you won’t be part of that family. End of discussion,” I insist louder. “One day you’ll understand and you’ll thank me. Mark my words.”

“Very well.” She removes her white napkin from her lap and stands up. “Then we have nothing else to discuss. Merry Christmas, Mother.” She leaves the table hurriedly, runs to her bedroom, and locks herself inside.





Chapter 26





Dieren, December 25, 2019

Petra Van Gatt





It only takes ninety minutes from Rotterdam to get to the Van Dieren estate, which is located near the city named after them. I didn’t see my mother the entire Christmas Day. She left home early in the morning, and only Anika was present. Anika said Mom had some urgent affairs to take care of. But I know perfectly well that she’s simply hurt from our heated argument, and we’re both too proud to apologize. I just can’t understand why Mom is so apprehensive. Why can’t she stand to see me in a relationship with him? And why did she attack his family?

Perplexed, I decide to do a quick Google search on the Van Dieren family. I don’t find anything disturbing or shocking. Most likely Mom is overreacting.

As I stare out my window, I notice the car has just stopped in front of black metal gates. The driver speaks to the security guards, then they inspect the car and trunk before finally nodding, opening the gates. We drive onto the property. It looks bigger than Bedford Hills. The road through the snowy gardens stretches on for what feels like miles. The car stops again. This time at… street signs? I lift my eyebrows. I see a perpendicular road and read the directions: the right leads to the stables, park, main gardens, and tennis court; the left goes to the chapel and staff house (staff house?); and straight ahead is the manor. The car continues straight, finally reaching the main roundabout and the entrance. Everything is white, covered by the beauty of winter. I smile nervously, my stomach knotting. Oh, dear Lord, I never imagined meeting my future in-laws at only eighteen, but I also never imagined loving someone like Alex so unconditionally at such young age either. I take a much-needed breath.

As the car parks in front of the entrance, I see Dad standing outside, talking on the phone, his face serious and annoyed. I frown. Who’s he talking to?

A valet opens my door, and once I exit, Dad finally hangs up.

“Hi, Dad. Is everything alright?”

He doesn’t reply immediately.

“Hi, Petra. Well… Your mother is really upset, to say the least.” I shake my head. “She’s not happy about your plans, and she thinks I raised you poorly.”

“Neither am I about her behavior and the way she is talking to you.” Dad smiles at my comforting voice, but I know he’s still vexed by Mom’s vicious words. I move closer to him and into his arms. “Mom doesn’t know me as well as you do. She’s just freaking out because I’m more mature than any girl my age. Plus, she spends her days at that nonprofit dealing with abusive relationships and marriages, so I imagine she’s even more worried. It’ll be alright, don’t worry.”

Dad takes a deep breath. I know it’s not easy for him either. “Thank you for your kind words, Petra. I’m so glad to have you.” He hugs me tight and plants a kiss on my forehead.

“I’m so glad to have you too, Dad.” I feel him getting slightly emotional. “Shall we?”

“Sure. Don’t forget to be polite.” I try hard to suppress a laugh. I love how Dad translates “don’t kiss Alex in front of me and his family” in such a charming and politically correct way.

Before we can ring the doorbell, someone opens the door wide.