Page 150 of My Dark Prince
I smothered a giggle and mouthed,thank you.
A full minute passed.
I almost hung up when Philomena finally pierced the silence. “You are right. I have no right to criticize you. We shouldn’t have lost touch with you, honey. It was a very stressful time in our lives. We were overwhelmed about all of it. I wish you could let me explain.”
Oliver had said the same thing. Only Oliver tried to make it up to me by saving me in the pond, taking care of me bedside at the hospital, upending his life with me as his fiancée, and letting me crash here after I made it very,veryclear that I hated his guts.
And he never asked for anything in return.
I had a feeling Philomena and Jason shared an ulterior motive and that I’d find out what it was sooner rather than later.
“Uh-huh.” I rolled my tongue inside my mouth. “See, this is the point of having a family. You stick it out even when things get tough. You don’t forget about the person and move on with your life.”
Sebastian’s fingers whipped across his screen, his tongue peeking out with concentration. A second later, a text flashed on my screen.
Seb vB:9-1-1? Scratch that. I’d like to report a DOUBLE HOMICIDE.
I smiled at him. Face perfect or tarnished, Sebastian was still filled to the brim with charm.
Philomena remained quiet on the other line. She didn’t know how to deal with an unruly daughter. I’d always tried my best to appease her.
I sighed, already drained just from knowing she and Jason talked about me. “What do you want?”
“I wanted to congratulate you on your engagement to Oliver von Bismarck.” Her voice came out formal, prim and proper. “Your father and I – yes, we are both still your parents, whether you like it or not – greatly approve of this match. Oliver is from a very respectful family.”
My mind screeched like a record. “I’m sorry … mywhat?”
“Your engagement to Oliver. I hope you would consider sending us an invitation, Briar Ro –Briar. We would love to honor you with our presence.”
“You could’ve honored me with your presence for the past decade and a half,” I bit out. “And I still have no idea what you are talking about. How do you know I’m … engaged to Oliver?”
I wasn’t. Not really. But I was certain that if a rumor was going around, Oliver’s big fat mouth had spread it. It reeked of his stench. He loved messing with me.
“What do you meanhow?” Judging by the hardened edge her tone had taken, Mother Dearest obviously lost her patience. “Do you take me for an uneducated swine? I saw the announcement in theNew York Times.”
“In theNew Yor…”
The rest of the words died in my throat. I snapped my fingers, signaling for Sebastian to grab the newspaper from today. He had every single publication delivered to him daily, which he collected before dawn when he slinked back into his den.
Seb shot up, rushed to the credenza, and pulled out the paper, tossing it in my lap. I tore through the pages until I reached it.
Fucking. Oliver.
A Royal (American) Wedding.
POTOMAC, April 3. – His Grace Oliver Etherion von Bismarck, oldest son of Felix von Bismarck, Duke of Carinthia, and Agnes von Bismarck, of the Conyngham art dynasty, announces his engagement to Briar Auer of Los Angeles, parents deceased.
The announcement took over a double spread. A whole freaking double-spread. As if we were Meghan and Harry.
Jesus Christ, Ollie.
Also –parents deceased?
Hot damn, he could be brutal when he wanted to be. I didn’t know whether to laugh or beat him to a pulp. Probably both.
“I must say …” Philomena faked a sob. “I was a little disappointed that we were mentioned as deceased.”
“Why?” I shook my head, sorting through the fog in my brain. “It is completely accurate. You guys are dead to me.”
