Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(20)

And just like that I feel like an asshole.

Because that is something Liam would have done.

I don’t particularly want Dad here, but Jace reaching out to our father is the equivalent of him walking across burning coals barefoot.

“Oh.” I peer up at our dad. “Hi, Daddy.”

His face lights up like the Fourth of July, those green eyes—eyes that look exactly like Cole’s and Liam’s—twinkling. “Hi, sweetheart.” Reaching over, he ruffles my hair like he used to when I was a kid. “Happy Birthday.”

I bite my tongue as not to point out that my actual birthday is still three days away.

“Thanks.”

I don’t know what to make of the look on his face. “I can’t believe you’re eighteen. Seems like just yesterday we were taking you home from the hospital.” A ghost of a smile curves his lips. “Your mother…” He swallows hard, not willing to finish that sentence.

My mother always wanted a girl.

She had to birth three boys before she got her wish, and when she finally did…she almost died during childbirth from the blood loss.

Luckily, she didn’t.

Unfortunately, I only had eight years with her before she did.

There’s so much agony in his expression it steals my breath. “God, you look so much like her.”

I stiffen.

Cole pales.

Jace’s jaw tics.

Before she fell in love and Daddy whisked her off to America, my mother was the most gorgeous and talented Bollywood actress of her generation.

With her tan, flawless skin, big brown eyes full of depth, high cheekbones, slightly upturned nose, long dark hair, full lips and dazzling smile…she was utterly perfect.

I consider myself fortunate to have ended up inheriting her looks, and you bet your ass I use them to my advantage.

Beautiful girls have it much easier in life.

And despite what my mom did…I know she wanted the best for me.

However, she also wanted me to be smarter and stronger than she was.

Which—I can only assume—is why she made me promise not to fall in love.

Never let a man steal my heart because he’d ultimately shatter it and ruin me.

Men were toxic, and sooner or later they would fuck you over.

Therefore, it was important to use them while they used you and suck whatever you could out of them before it was too late.

Clearing his throat, my father takes what looks like a jewelry box out of his pocket.

“I got you something.”

I try to hide my annoyance as I snatch the box from him. Lord knows the man has given me tons of diamonds and jewels throughout the years and I don’t want any more.

I’m about to open it, but he halts me. “Wait.” He glances around at everyone. “Let’s take a walk out front.”

I eye Jace as we all start trekking to the front of the house. “What’s he doing?”

He shrugs, appearing just as confused as I am. “I have no idea.”

We’re almost to the driveway when my father looks at me. “You can open it now.”

Begrudgingly, I do.

Trepidation crawls up my spine as I finger the black key fob with a Mercedes logo on it.

Please tell me he didn’t.

Sure enough, there’s a pink Mercedes convertible parked in the driveway.

Instantaneously, panic claws at my chest and I reach for my pendant.

He knows I can’t drive.

He knows I’ll never drive.

I can’t…I don’t…

I don’t want to die like she did.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I croak.

Everyone looks baffled…everyone but Jace and Cole because for once, this is something they understand.

Pink Mercedes.

A Mercedes…just like my mom’s.

My stomach rolls as the sound of metal crushing against metal assaults my ears.

A fresh new wave of panic grips me by the throat and my knees start wobbling. I’m gonna die.

“I don’t—” our father starts to say until Jace cuts him off.

“Bianca doesn’t drive.”

“I know that, Jace. But I think it’s about time she learned. I found a top-notch driving instructor—”

I throw the key fob at him. “Take it back. I don’t want it.”

I look over at Hayley. “Let’s go. Now.”

Tears prickle my eyes as I march over to the white Acura with her and Zack in tow.

“Bianca, stop,” Jace barks. “Don’t let him ruin your day.”

It’s not just him. It’s everyone. Everything.

“Come on, Bianca,” Cole yells. “Don’t leave.”

“Get back here, young lady,” our father shouts. “I did not give you permission to leave.”

Oh, now he wants to pretend to be a dad.

“Neither did I,” Jace growls.

Raising my middle finger in the air, I kick the pink piece of shit before I climb into the passenger seat of Hayley’s car. “I’m eighteen, remember?”

Once again, my mother was right.

You can go through life being the most beautiful specimen on earth…yet feel completely unnoticed and alone.

People only see what they want to see.