Part of Me

18

18

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"With the right person, you don't have to try so hard to be happy. It just happens."
-Unknown

C A Y D E N
• • •

MY dad had always been an asshole, it was just something I was used to and taken with a grain of salt, but when he spoke to Devyn like that, I swear I was so close to punching him. What the fuck gave him the right to be so degrading to her? In that moment, I hated him. In that moment, I felt nothing but anger and resentment toward that man. No love, no compassion, nothing besides anger and resentment.

I watched Devyn walk calmly away, awe clouding my vision. No one had ever said anything like that to him before, but I was glad she did.

"Despicable," I heard my father whisper to Ma.

"Jeremy, why would you—"

"What the fuck is wrong with you? Devyn's done nothing to you or your precious image. She's here because I asked her to be and for no other reason. And Abby? Really, Dad?"

It was bad enough what he said about how she was dressed and her not fitting in, but comparing her to Abby? That was low, even for my father. I may have loved her once, but my friends were right. Abby was nothing but a self-centered bitch who screwed me over for her own benefit. I mean, to be fair, he was right on one thing: She was perfectly suited for this world because she was a spitting image of every callous, rude, and snobby person that attended such events. Unlike Devyn, Abby would've never said anything. She would've just stood there, taking the verbal abuse until I stepped in, later scolding me for not stepping in sooner.

"Cayden!" Ma exclaimed.

"No, Ma. I'm done with his bullshit. Devyn doesn't need your abuse. And I don't need your approval to hang out with her, so don't even try to tell me that she's not allowed at the house or future charity events."

My father seemingly didn't know what to say. He was speechless, which was a first.

I took the opportunity to turn on my heel and go out to the balcony where Devyn was. "I'm so sorry, Devyn."

She shook her head, giving me a small smile. "Don't be. He's your dad and the CEO of a huge company. I'm not exactly someone he wants you to hang around."

I opened my mouth to respond, but music interrupted me, causing Devyn to jump. Chuckling, I said, "I guess that's our cue. I may be pissed at my dad, but I still have people to say hi to. Do you want to stay out here?"

I braced myself for her to say yes. As much as I wanted her by my side, I understood why she wouldn't want to interact with anyone in there. Most of them were fine, but there were a fair few that were like my dad.

But she just shook her head and hooked her arm through mine. "Doesn't that kind of defeat the whole purpose of my being here? I'm supposed to make this bearable for you." I shrugged, silently confirming her statement, and she gestured for me to lead the way. "I promise not to explode on any of them this time."

Ducking down as we walked in, I whispered, "He deserved it anyway," in her ear.

When I pulled away, I smirked when I saw the faint tint on her olive skin. She let out a small chuckle and looked around the room. I saw it in her eyes, the panic. I saw it set in and I saw her heart stop momentarily.

I slipped my arm from hers and wound it around her waist. She sucked in a breath and her eyes snapped to me, but I was already shaking hands with a man whose name I didn't even remember.