One Temptation

House of Lies (Chapter 70)

Hey everyone,

I'm really sorry for the long wait in updates. I went on holiday, then didn't have much time to write, and shortly after, I got sick. On top of that, I had a few tough days that really took a toll on my mental health, so I needed to step back for a bit.

I appreciate all of you for sticking around, and I'm doing my best to get back to writing. Thanks for your patience. I won't keep you waiting much longer!

❤️

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West POV

I wake up pissed. Not groggy, not slow, not even confused—skin-crawlingly angry. 

The room's too quiet. The air feels fucking thick. And the only thought repeating in my head like a goddamn drumbeat is— I need to hit something.

Or someone. Preferably someone.

I swing my legs off the bed and sit there for a second. Staring at the floor. Breathing in slow and deep, even though it doesn't help. My hands are shaking.

Today is the day. My parent's divorce.

The man who looked my mum in the face and vowed to love her. The man who gave me his name, who coached my first footy match, who told me to protect my brother no matter what. That same man is going to be standing on the other side of a courtroom today, fighting to rip everything apart with a pen and a signature.

This was the day. The day everything changed. Everything fell apart. Everything I had tried so fucking hard to keep together.

All of it was going down the drain. All over power.

Clearly my dad hadn't had enough of all the money he'd invested into his life. Which was way more than needed. He'd spent his entire existence reciting one word—business. Like it could fix everything. Heal marriages. Raise kids. Earn love.

He worked his ass off day and night. Never home before midnight, phone always buzzing, deals stacked 24/7. But in the end, it still wasn't enough.

Still—if I had to give the devil his due, I'd say this: the man worked so hard that if I really wanted, I'd never have to worry about money again.

That is—if I win the case.

If he doesn't completely empty every account and disappear.

If he doesn't wipe it all clean just to shove into his next round of business ventures, or worse—throw it at the so-called allies who owe him favors. 

People like the fucking Robins.

Business allies, that's what he calls them. He owes them. Or they owe him. I don't even know anymore.

Thank god I've got access to my savings and funds already. Same with Mum. She's got enough to keep the house running without blinking. And part of the business is already under her name. She's not going to lose it. The house is hers. The accounts—half hers. She's gonna be fine.

But Alex?

He's still under eighteen. Still stuck in the middle. Caught between two parents throwing knives across a courtroom. Now they're fighting for custody. Not just of him—but of his future. His access. His division of funds. Where he goes. What he's allowed to do. Who gets him.

And my dad? He's not trying to win Alex because he loves him. He's doing it for control. For leverage. For one last upper hand.

And what's even worse?