Page 49 of Blue Gold

To be fair, I never even wanted children. Having another person to lie to for the rest of my life felt unfair, but Claudia wanted a child, and already feeling like I’d stolen too much from her, I didn’t have the heart to take that, too. And while grateful for Maya, that was it for me. To Father’s disappointment, I had no intention to have any more children.

“Enough with that career bullshit.” He snorted. “A woman’s place is at home. Take your mother, for example. She’s been a good wife and a great mom. As she should have.”

I fought hard not to roll my eyes, because Mother had been anything but that.

“Is that what you wish for Catherine? To be nothing but a wife?”

“She’ll be lucky if any man wants her with the way she’s whoring herself around the city,” he grunted just as the girls turned to look at us.

“We’re going back home for some iced tea before lunch. Would you care to join us?” Claudia asked.

I wanted to say yes, hoping to escape Father, as I’d had more than enough of this so-called quality time. Unfortunately, he refused the invitation before I could utter a word, insisting that we had a lot more to discuss.

Balking at the missed opportunity, I stared at the girls walking away.

“She has gained some weight, though, hasn’t she?” he said once they were gone, and I sighed.

“I don’t think my wife’s weight should concern you⁠—”

“I’m just pointing things out, son.” He scratched his neck with his chunky fingers, which always reminded me of sausages. “There’s nothing like a thin pussy, you know?”

As a matter of fact, no, I wouldn’t know, as I want nothing to do with “pussy.” Besides, what the hell did that even mean?

“You should have seen that country club waitress I fucked last night. What a hot piece of ass… I’m telling you, she had a waist so small I feared it would snap in two. And the way that girl rocked my cock?” He whistled while shaking his head. “If only I were your age… trust me, I would have fucked her all night.” He then laughed so loud it scared away the birds around us. “What I’m saying is that you should enjoy life, son. Just ’cause you’re married, it doesn’t mean it’s the end. What your wife doesn’t know…” He elbowed me with a wink.

If, in the past, Father’s affairs made my stomach clench, now, they didn’t as much. Especially when he treated me as his confidant, telling me things I wished to know nothing about. And while the fact that I didn’t care about his infidelity should have worried me, instead, I found the idea disturbingly appealing. Because as he went on describing that waitress’s body, how soft her skin was, and how full her lips were, all I could think about was Elliot and how good his lips tasted. I also thought about how easily I’d lied to Claudia this morning, and not just today, but ever since Elliot stepped into my life. But then again, I wasn’t the same as my father. Was I? I didn’t see Elliot as a hot piece of ass, but actually had feelings for him⁠—

“When did you start hiring a bunch of fairies, huh?” Father snarled, and I turned to look at who he was staring at with such disdain.

Surprisingly, what I saw bothered me even more than his choice of words. There, not far from the east side of the house, where the staff kitchen was, Elliot was taking a smoke break. Except he wasn’t alone, and right next to him, leaning against the wall, was none other than Claudia’s idiotic tennis coach. What was this moron’s name, Louise? Lachlan? Oh, right, Lucas. Ugh. What a trashy name.

As I continued staring daggers into Lucas’s big head, I also tried listening to their conversation. I couldn’t hear what they were saying since we were too far away, but from the look of it, their exchange was nothing if not flirtatious. Enough for even my father to call them out.

Just then, that imbecile said something that made Elliot laugh, and of course, he didn’t miss the chance to lean even closer to my French prince, a greedy smile on his lips as he did. My blood boiled, causing my heart to hammer fast in my chest as I remembered how Elliot had laughed with me this morning. Was this his thing? Going around and making men drool after him? Did he even care about me or stop to think about the risk I took to spend those stolen moments with him?

The way he just patted Lucas’s bicep was enough of an answer, and I bit my bottom lip, sickened by the bitter taste of jealousy that settled at the back of my throat. Thankfully, Elliot put an end to my torture soon enough as he stubbed out his cigarette and went back inside the house, leaving Lucas behind to stare at his ass.

I’ve had enough of this.

“Will you excuse me,” I said to my father, not caring for a response, before strolling toward Lucas, who was still smoking his cigarette like some brainless hooligan.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I snapped, my voice tight with rage as I approached the moron.

Lucas, who’d only now noticed me, pushed back from the wall he leaned against and straightened up.

“Oh, hey there⁠—”

“Hey there?” I snarled, stopping in his face. “Am I your friend?”

His brows scrunched up. “What?”

“Are you trying to piss me off?” I barked.

“W-what?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Is that the only word you’re able to come up with?”

Swallowing hard, he shook his head. “N-no, of course not.”