Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 192810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 964(@200wpm)___ 771(@250wpm)___ 643(@300wpm)
“Excuse my interruption, Mistress Laura,” Allain called.
Everyone looked to him.
He had his Palm turned our way and there was a male’s face on it.
“Please note,” the male’s voice came from the Palm, “the Ministry of Law and Justice considers this a reconciliation meeting, and any request to reject the no contact order has been denied.”
“Thank you, minister,” the queen called.
“Your majesty,” the male said, and Allain turned the Palm back to himself.
“This is a travesty,” Mom declared.
“Again, Mom, what do you want?” I asked.
“We have a rightful place in your life,” she stated.
“What you mean is, you have a rightful place as parents of a princess of the realm,” I amended.
“That is what you’ll be, and that is who we are,” Mom declared.
“All right, I’ll ask a different question,” I returned. “How on earth can you think you deserve that respect with the disregard you used in raising me?”
My mother’s face twisted. “I didn’t want to do this, coming here. Tern has been riddled with guilt since you left…”
My gaze darted to my father to see his riveted to the step of the dais.
Mom kept talking.
“Losing her, it twisted something in him. It was like he thought you’d be her, born again. And then when you weren’t, he blamed me.”
“He also blamed Laura,” the queen pointed out.
“Whatever,” my mom returned. “That’s what I lived with all my life. A husband who wanted someone else.”
“So you came here because you thought you deserved to get something out of the fact that you…you…decided to marry a man who had lost his mate, and whatever you were expecting to get out of that didn’t come to fruition, so you acted like a bitter cow to everyone around you, including your own daughter? Is that what I’m hearing?” I asked.
“I thought I could make him love me,” Mom snapped.
“Newsflash, Mom, acting like an absolute bitch all the time isn’t really loveable,’ I shot back.
I heard Aleece stifle a laugh.
The king stood.
“Laura, have you said your piece?” he asked.
I opened my mouth, but Mom got there before me.
“We—”
That was as far as she got.
“Aleksei.” The king said my mate’s name like an order.
Aleksei accepted that order, and he delivered.
Boy, did he.
“You will return to your lives,” Aleksei declared. “You will resume them as you’ve been living them, with no contact with your daughter. You will not contact the Palace for any reason. You will also not speak to any media, even if they’re stubborn in their requests for you to do so. You will cease to exist for her, and you will consider her the same for you.”
Mom played her ace.
“And we will confirm the interview we have scheduled after this, which we have been assured will be aired precisely after your engagement interview with our daughter.”
Dad scowled at Mom like he could burn her to cinders with his gaze.
Aleksei inclined his head as if conceding.
But then he said, “Therefore, I’m sorry to say, if you do that, I will be forced to release the pics I have of you fornicating with Shivell Chevalforce, which I can assure you are quite indelicate.”
Dad’s inhale of outraged shock could be heard throughout the massive room, and that was good, because it covered my surprised one.
I didn’t know him very well, but I did know Shivell Chevalforce was a jerk. He was in my parents’ circle, married to a friend of my mother’s, but none of them really liked him, he was that much of a jerk.
Mom’s face became devoid of color.
“And you, Mr. Makepeace,” Aleksei continued, “will shortly be receiving the news that the Revenue Department is right now in the process of administering a warrant for the seizure of all comp units from your home and office.”
Dad sat very still.
Aleksei kept going.
“As well as those of a Mr. Neeru Sandslot, who I believe is your partner in a few ventures that have not been appropriately reported on your tax forms.”
Dad’s face was now devoid of color.
But…dang.
Aleksei didn’t mess around when he tore someone apart.
“Underpayment of taxes once garners a much different penalty than when it happens twice,” Aleksei informed him. “And it’s my understanding that the amount left unpaid is much more substantial this time. You could be looking at a prison term of no less than a year, as well as full repayment of the taxes, along with penalties.”
“It’s revolting that you would use your superior resources to invade our privacy like this,” Mom snapped.
“You find that revolting, and showing here to assert your position in this family, which, in case you aren’t getting this, you do not have one, after you snapped your daughter’s wrist by accident, not even caring enough for your child to take heed as you handle her, isn’t revolting?” Aleksei asked.
Before Mom could answer, I said, “I’ll be releasing my medical history to the media.”