With Love

Chapter Thirty-Six

*Warning! Physical abuse will be featured in this chapter. Please be advised.*

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My shoulders tensed as I slowly made my way up the front steps, stopping in front of my mother. She grinned up at me and I forced myself to muster a smile at her. She stepped out of Atticus' embrace and opened her arms wide. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders as she wrapped hers around my waist since I was so much taller than her.

For a moment I let myself breathe in her scent. She always smelled like this Armani perfume she'd been wearing since I could remember. It brought little comfort but it still smelt like home to me.

I loved my mother. While she may have abandoned us to our father for our entire lives but I knew she still loved us. "Hello Mama," I said softly, tightening my arms just the slightest.

She tutted, pushing me away stiffly but gently. "Now now, my Anastasia, no need to get emotional," she reprimanded swiftly, her eyes darting to the side where she knew my father stood behind her.

My head lifted, my spine straightening as I slipped my hands behind my back. "Of course not."

I remained standing in front of my mother, knowing my father expected me to move to greet him. He could make the first move for all I cared. "Do you know why Amari has barricaded herself in her room?" My mother demanded, her nose crinkling in exasperation. "Her music is blaring and she won't open the door."

Just inside the foyer, Harvey and Lorenzo stood, their expressions blank. My jaw shifted. If they had at least warned me five seconds before I could have used that time to mentally prepare myself for this disaster.

"Is this how The Love Heir dresses now? In nothing but a shirt tied with a belt?" My father's sophisticated British accent slammed through my defenses, cutting off my mother's continuous questions about Amari.

My knuckles tightened as my hands clutched each other. "I am the heir of nothing because I'm no longer an heir. I'm the Boss," I informed him, daring to look him in the eye.

His blue eyes that matched Atticus' down to the shade, bored into mine, a menacing gleam behind them. His lips twitched. "I'm glad you think that."

My nose twitched as my blood started boiling. Fucking asshole. "Looks as if you're having trouble coming to terms with reality, Father," I sniped, my tone bitter, "you should really stop living in your imagination and read the contract you signed."

He breathed in slowly, his hands hidden behind his back. I fought the smirk threatening to come out. My father stared me down. I refused to break eye contact. Both of us ignored the sounds of my mother's voice trying to hold a conversation.

Footsteps making their way up the stairs broke out concentration as my father glanced over my shoulder. I twisted enough to see Jasper determinedly walking up the steps, his stride not breaking for a second. Finn took his time behind him.

My mother opened her arms again, a wide smile on her face. "Jasper, come give your mother a hu—"

Jasper walked right past both of our parents and into the manor without a word or a look in either direction.

My mother's expression fell but I couldn't feel sorry for her, she stood by while her husband abused her child in the harshest ways possible. Yes, we could have stopped it, but every time Elijah and I tried to speak up our father pressed down further on our resolve, daring us to speak out against him.

A rush of pride swelled through me. Fuck yeah, that's my little brother.

My father's eyes widened and he spun to grab the nape of Jasper's jacket but I calmly spoke out. "Do not touch him."