His Shortcake

Chapter 39

Dustyn Franco

I was taken aback when Alec asked me to meet him at their old house—the mansion where they grew up—to discuss renovation plans and meet the architect and engineer he had hired for the job. Confused yet curious, I drove over, unsure of what to expect.

What I found made my jaw drop.

A massive moving truck was parked outside, and men were bustling about, hauling boxes out of the house and into the van. Amelia stood out front, futilely tugging at the boxes, her small frame dwarfed by the sheer strength of the movers.

I parked my car behind Alec's red Audi, trying to ignore the chaotic scene Amelia was causing. As I stepped inside, I was struck by the sight of the living room. The walls, once adorned with family photos and cherished paintings, were now completely bare, stripped of their memories.

Alec stood at the foot of the stairs, barking orders at the movers to pick up the pace. He hadn't noticed me yet, but Jack loomed behind him, his expression a tempest of fury.

"Stop this right now, Alec!" Jack shouted, his voice thick with anger. He commanded his son to halt the chaos. "This isn't right! I own this house!"

Alec responded by pulling out a piece of paper and tossing it carelessly at Jack's face. "Doesn't say that in this," he retorted, returning to his commands as if the confrontation were nothing.

Jack's eyes narrowed as he read the document, horror and disbelief flitting across his features before settling into pure rage. "That fucking woman!" he exploded, the curse echoing through the room.

My eyes widened in shock at Jack's words. I had never heard him curse at his wife before. All this time, I believed he loved and respected her, even after marrying Amelia. Hearing him lash out at her for her decisions felt low, even for him. I barely had time to process the shock when Alec's fist connected with Jack's face, sending him crashing to the floor.

"Alec," I called, stepping closer to intervene before he escalated the situation further. His furious gray eyes turned toward me, softening slightly. "You don't need to punch him."

Alec raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "Did you hear what he just said?"

I nodded, a sarcastic smile creeping onto my face. "I can handle it myself." With that, I delivered a punch to Jack's face as he struggled to rise from the ground.

Jack glared at me, trying to regain his footing just as Amelia's shrill voice cut through the chaos.

"Jack!" she shouted, rushing to his side in her impossibly high heels and skin-tight outfit that left little to the imagination. She shot daggers at us as she helped him up, her disdain particularly aimed at me. It was bizarre yet oddly fascinating to watch her, knowing she wouldn't dare stand up to Alec no matter what he did.

"I will sue you for this!" Jack threatened, his face a mask of fury. He was clearly livid. "And I'll take your sister from you," he added, a smug grin spreading across his face as Alec's expression darkened with rage.

Through clenched teeth, Alec shot back, "Don't you dare threaten me with Mara."

Jack's grin only widened, reveling in the chaos he was creating. "I'm still her legal guardian, Alec. What are you going to do, huh? That little brat will be under my care once I prove how unstable she is."

My fists clenched at my sides. "She is not unstable!" I spat, anger surging through me.

The man I once admired was revealing his true nature, and it was horrifying. Jack was no longer the father I had looked up to; he was a manipulative tyrant, and Alec was right to be suspicious of him all along. I couldn't believe I had ever trusted him more than he deserved.