Page 205 of My Dark Prince
“Your brother smacked some sense into me last night.”
“Sebastiandid?”
“He FaceTimed me. Forced me to stare him right in the eyes as he told me that I failed both of you. That it was myduty as your father to help you two navigate our new world, and I failed.” Hallucinated Dad sighed, raking a hand through his graying hair. “Let me pass your brother’s advice onto you, son. Sometimes things that never happened haunt you more than the things that did. Don’t live with regret, Oliver.”
A nauseating ache rose from somewhere I thought had healed.
I groaned into my desk. “This hallucination sounds an awful lot like an intervention.”
Dad gathered my hands together, laughing into my fists. “Ollie?
“Yeah, Dad?”
“I know we’re awful at showing it, but your mom and I love you.”
The room descended into heavy silence.
I remembered the last time I’d heard those words. Twenty-five days ago. From Briar.
The only woman capable of doing what no corporate rival ever could.
Break me.
Chapter Ninety-Four
Briar
Trial Day Twenty-Six.
Dallas Costa:I know you won’t see this for another five hundred years (and that this makes me a total narc), but Oliver has been miserable since you left.
Farrow Ballantine-Sun:Co-signed. As much as I like seeing men falling at the feet of women, it’s truly a sad sight to behold.
Dallas Costa:Are you sure you two can make this work long-distance?
Farrow Ballantine-Sun:Fine. We get it. We won’t mention it again.
Dallas Costa:Is it just me or is it weird talking to Briar when we know she won’t respond to these texts?
Frankie Townsend:HMM … IT’S ALMOST LIKE IT’S NO FUN BEING IGNORED IN TEXTS.
Farrow Ballantine-Sun:Hey, look who found the caps lock button.
Frankie Townsend:not funny. being iced out sucks ass. i swear being an influencer is a real job.
Farrow Ballantine-Sun:I have the weekend off next week.
Dallas Costa:Girls trip to SoCal? We can head down to O.C.
Farrow Ballantine-Sun:Be real. You’re not coming to visit Briar. You just want a cheese roll from Porto’s.
Dallas Costa:I don’t want A cheese roll from Porto’s. I want the entire menu.
Frankie Townsend:im coming this time!
Dallas Costa:Have you found employment yet?
Frankie Townsend:not my fault i got fired again
