Heir of Deception | (for mature audience)

Chapter 43: Alexanderia

Alexandria

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After today's letter, I finally decided to take Christian up on his offer and meet him for dinner. Just one dinner to see where things might lead. Honestly, I'd missed him every single day since our separation, but first, I had some serious business to attend to.

I was flying to LA with Leah, Christian's sister, to sever all ties with my father and mother once and for all. I had allowed them to mistreat me for years, but this was the last straw. I wanted nothing to do with them after today-whether they accepted that or not was irrelevant.

"Are you ready for this?" Leah asked, her brow furrowed with concern as we stood in the bustling airport, the weight of our mission heavy in the air.

"I just want everything to be over as soon as possible," I replied, releasing a heavy sigh. The tension felt suffocating, the gravity of my decision pressing down on me like a lead blanket.

When I turned 18, I inherited a stake in Carter & Co, a financial lifeline that had helped me through college. But now? I was financially secure on my own, and I didn't need anything from them after the pain they had caused me. My father had hurt me countless times, and I had let it happen, but this time, I was done. This was the last time I would allow anyone to walk all over me. I was reclaiming my power by signing everything back over to him.

Christian had hurt me too, no doubt. He had shown a lack of loyalty when he agreed to the terms of this arranged marriage. But he was different now-he had proven his remorse while my father had merely sat back, watching as I crumbled under the weight of their expectations.

"Let's do this," Leah whispered as we approached my father's office, her voice steadying my nerves.

To my surprise, my mother was present too. The sight of her sent a fresh wave of anger coursing through me. If she wanted any part of this confrontation, I had words for her, too.

"Alexandria," my mother said, rising to her feet, her eyes scanning my clothes with a judgmental glint. I inhaled deeply, steadying myself for what was to come.

"I'm glad you're both here. I'll make this quick," I said, cutting to the chase, my voice firm yet boiling with suppressed rage.

"Why are you here, and why did you bring Christian's sister?" my father demanded, confusion mingling with irritation.

"Leah is my lawyer," I replied, taking a seat across from my parents, my heart pounding like a war drum in my chest.

"Why do you need a lawyer?" My mother's voice dripped with disbelief, as if I were the unreasonable one.

"I'm selling my shares in Carter & Co back to you," I declared, watching as shock morphed into anger on their faces.

"Where is this coming from?" my father asked, disbelief turning to fury.

"I want nothing to do with either of you any longer," I said, the words spilling out with a finality that felt liberating. "So sign the papers, so I can leave because I have other things to do after this."

The silence that followed was deafening, but I stood my ground, ready to reclaim my life from the shadows of my past.

"Who do you think you're speaking to? That's your-"

Before my mother could finish, I cut in, my voice rising, fueled by years of repressed anger. "I'm speaking to a man who has looked out for himself more than he ever did for his youngest daughter! He practically sold me to a stranger for his own gain!" I shouted, my voice echoing off the sterile walls, the rage spilling out like a dam breaking.

"Do not speak to your father like that, Alexandria!" My mother yelled, her finger wagging in a desperate attempt to regain control.

"He is only my father by blood, Elizabeth!" I snapped back, every word laced with venom. "Just like you are only my mother by blood! You think that gives you the right to treat me like I'm worthless?"

"What have I ever done for you to treat me like this, Alexandria?" My mother clutched her chest dramatically, her facade of innocence crumbling.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I shot back, incredulous at her audacity. "Since my teens, you have done nothing but tear me apart! Critique everything about me, including my weight, and now you're asking me what you've done to me?"

I had finally had enough. I may not have said these things in years, but I was saying them now, and it felt like a fire igniting within me.

"You are the reason I've been battling an eating disorder all these years because I wanted you to love me!" I screamed, tears streaming down my face, the raw pain spilling over. "And you." I turned to my father, my voice trembling with fury. "You sat back and watched it all unfold! You were too busy fawning over your golden child, Anastacia, to care about the hell I was going through!"

"Alexandria..." My father said softly, as if his gentle tone could somehow erase the years of pain. "Why didn't you..."

"Why didn't I tell you I had an eating disorder?" I interrupted, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why would I tell you? So your wife could judge me for that too? So you could act like you cared while you both treated me like a burden?"

"Alex-"

"Sign the damn papers so I can leave," I said, wiping my tears away, my resolve hardening.

Leah moved closer to me and squeezed my hand, offering her silent support as we waited for my father to make the inevitable decision.

"Can we talk this out before you leave, Lex?" My father, correction, Anthony, asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

"Goodbye," I said flatly, refusing to give him the satisfaction of another word.

As we stepped out of the office, all eyes turned to us. They must have heard the commotion, but I didn't care. I was free from that suffocating room and their twisted expectations.

We reached the car, and I sank into the seat, the weight of everything crashing down on me. Leah followed suit, pulling me into her arms, allowing me to fall apart.

"It's okay," she murmured, her hand running soothingly over my hair, a lifeline in the storm of my emotions. "Let it out."

I cried, sobs wracking my body as I released years of pent-up pain and frustration. In that moment, I felt a flicker of hope amidst the heartache. I was finally taking control of my life, and while the road ahead was uncertain, I knew I was not alone.