Broken Kingdom (Royal Hearts Academy #4)(32)

Given she’s clearly from India, just like my mom—it’s safe to say my dad has a certain type.

Or maybe he’s just trying to fill the hole Mom left in his heart.

If that’s the case—I can’t blame him.

However, I’m not cool with the two of them procreating.

I’m the baby of this family goddammit. And if this bitch thinks she’s just going to waltz in uninvited and start popping out additions to it, she can kiss my squat-sculpted ass.

“Nadia’s not pregnant,” my dad quickly says.

I start to relax…until I hear his next words.

“We are, however, getting married.”

Reaching for her hand, he kisses it.

I can’t help but notice the ugly, gaudy diamond on her left ring finger.

Jace—who always has something to say—stays silent. However, it’s obvious he’s not pleased with the news.

None of us are.

“When?” Cole bites out.

Dad and Nadia exchange a glance. “We haven’t decided on a date yet, but sometime within the next year or so.”

Without a word, Jace exits the kitchen.

A moment later the front door slams shut.

Cole snorts. “Wow.” His eyes land on Nadia. “Enjoy living in a dead woman’s house with the husband you stole.” He glares at Dad. “Congrats, man. Make sure to have your whore sign a prenup.”

With that, he walks out.

Nadia’s face falls.

Dad looks at me, his eyes begging, pleading with me to show some compassion.

But I can’t.

Because it hurts.

So fucking much.

“You’ll never take her place,” I tell Nadia, and I mean it with every fiber of my being.

Despite her mistakes and the secret I’m forced to keep—I will always love my mother.

There’s not a person on this earth who could ever put a stop to that.

Tears clogging my vision, I run out the patio door. I’ll spontaneously combust if I have to spend another minute trapped in here with them.

God, I miss her.

I miss her smile, her laugh, her smell…the way she hugged me so tight—like I was the most important thing to her.

But mostly?

I hate how it’s all starting to fade away.

Every day that passes my memory of her withers more and more.

If I’m not careful…one day I’m going to wake up and every trace of her will be gone.

“You have a lot of nerve,” Oakley calls out.

I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn’t even realize he was out here.

However, I’m not in the right state of mind to go toe to toe with him right now.

“Look,” I start as he stalks over. “I’m really not in the mood—”

“I don’t give a shit,” he snarls. “Not only did you hook up with Hayley’s new boyfriend behind her back…you videotaped her touching herself and put it on a fucking porn site.” Face twisting in disgust, he takes a step forward, cornering me like I’m his prey. “What the fuck is the matter with you?”

I blink, not understanding what he’s talking about.

Yes, I recorded Hayley touching herself.

Hell, I recorded her doing lots of sexual stuff.

However, I didn’t put those videos on a porn site.

Not yet anyway.

Ice runs through my veins as it dawns on me.

There’s no way Hayley would know I planned to do that.

Not unless she talked to him.

Holy shit.

This is bad. Real fucking bad.

Hand clutching my stomach, I utter, “I don’t know what Hayley told you, but—”

“She told me everything,” Oakley spits.

Somehow, I doubt that…because if she did?

There’s no way Oakley would be looking at me like I’m the most despicable person he’s ever come across.

And he certainly wouldn’t be taking her side.

“Oak—”

I can’t finish that statement because he takes another step forward causing me to lose my footing and teeter back…but not before grabbing his shirt.

A second later we both fall into the pool.

I sputter up water as I come to the surface. I barely have a chance to gather my bearings before an equally drenched Oakley is swimming toward me.

Face full of anger, he punches the water. “If you think I’m gonna stand by and let you ruin the lives of all the women I care about, you’re even crazier than I thought you were.”

I ignore the thick rush of jealousy pushing through my veins because what I have to tell him is important.

I might have taken those videos, but I never put them up on any porn sites.

I also never hooked up with Zack.

Which means the bitch is lying her ass off.

And the fact that he would believe her over me…hurts.

Far more than I thought it would.

“Hate to break it to you, Oakley, but your precious Hayley—”

Eyes narrowing, he backs me against the wall of the pool. “You better stay the hell away from her.”

His voice is so full of malice my insides twist.

I jut my chin in challenge. “And if I don’t?”

Long fingers hover around my throat, ready to squeeze.