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Remy shook his head as he claimed a seat on her couch. "I don't think you should go," he admitted.

A tight-lipped smile formed on her face before she turned around to look at her father. "Luckily for us, I've passed that agewhere you have to make my decisions for me," she throated out in her strained voice.

Jeremy scoffed with a shake of his head. Britain was Seven in every way she could possibly be. Her mother had given her not only her strength, but her snappy mouth as well. "He hurt you," Jeremy reminded Britain. Remy wasn’t much of a fan of Priest right now. He wasn't trying to see the situation from Priest's point of view at all. His daughter was pained, and as her usual selfless self, she was about to put a cap on her feelings to support the man who was leaving her.

A cranky sigh drifted out of Britain. "He did not hurt me," she refuted. "He's making a decision for himself.”

"Which is only hurting you in the process," Remy quickly added.

Britain let out a deep breath. She dearly appreciated her father for showing up at her place last night with open arms for her to cry and grieve her relationship, but she could tell he was upset with Priest and expected her to also be upset. That wasn't the case for Britain. She wouldn't dare hold any resentment or anger toward Priest for trying to better himself. He deserved every moment of peace he could grasp in life. Finally grabbing the reins on his own life and making a decision that was best for only him, regardless of how it affected anyone else, was commendable. Priest was generous; some would say too generous. Making a decision like this should’ve been respected, no matter how much pain he left everyone in.

"No, Dad. I hurt myself," Britain croaked out in her raspy voice. "I'm the one who doesn't want to go."

In defense, Jeremy folded his arms across his chest. "You made a good choice, Britain. He's wrong for thinking you would follow him like you're simple," Jeremy told her in an indignant tone.

Britain’s shoulders dropped in a sulk. A light smile spread across her face as she shuffled over to her father. When she wrapped her arms around him, Jeremy immediately secured her in his arms. Britain couldn't necessarily blame him. He was doing his due diligence as her father. He was only trying to protect her. Protecting her was something he would always do, even if it meant he had to burn bridges with Priest. "I know you're upset with him, but can you try to be reasonable?" she throated out.

Jeremy sat a gentle kiss on the top of Britain’s head after letting out a heavy breath. "He gave me his word, Brit-Brat. He told me he would never leave you like I left your mother," Jeremy revealed to her.

"That's what this is about?" Britain asked, finally coming to terms with why her father was so angry with Priest.

Jeremy bit down on his bottom lip in deep contemplation. Priest reminded him so much himself, and that drove him up the wall. He didn't think Britain should’ve ever ended up with a man like himself. She was far too fragile and caring to ever deal with that. Jeremy wasn't trying to undermine Seven's pain, but he always knew Seven would turn out okay after he left. Britain, on the other hand… he didn't think that would be the case. Jeremy just wasn't sure if his daughter would ever be okay, and that frightened him.

"Your pain is my pain," he informed his daughter in a light voice. "And I know how much pain you're in right now."

Britain rested her head on her father's strong chest. Jeremy brought her the same sense of security Priest brought her. They both loved her wholeheartedly, which was why they couldn't see eye to eye in this situation. "I'm okay," she assured her father.

He pulled away from the embrace, now holding both of her hands with his eyes peering down at her. "You’re okay for themoment, but how okay will you be when he finally leaves?" He raised a brow at her.

Britain gulped. She had yet to process how much of a train wreck she would be when Priest got on his jet to take off. How would she handle the piercing feeling in her heart watching him leave her behind? Britain immediately felt her orbs scorch with salty tears. Gulping once more, she prevented her tears from falling so they wouldn't ruin her makeup.

"Listen, I've been on both sides before. When I left your mother, I thought I was doing what was best for me. I thought the distance and lack of communication was going to push me harder to be the man she deserved. I never took into consideration how much pain I put her through until recently," Jeremy confessed. Seven had recently opened up to him about the hardships she endured while recovering from the heartache he caused. She described the pain as her stripping herself down to the bare nothingness of her flesh and having to slowly suture her skin back on while everyone watched.

Seven was forced to keep it together. She couldn't let herself go because she still had Jeremy's reputation to uphold out in the streets. Neither could she sulk at home because her parents would’ve only judged her for losing herself for a man they considered to be beneath their soon-to-be surgeon daughter.

Seven was forced to put on a brave face when all she wanted was for Remy to be by her side, supporting her and Britain. “I also know how it feels to be in your shoes. Your mother made a life for herself that would never include me. We never made our way back to each other, and that pain is not easy to cope with," he expressed to Britain.

Her feline-like umber brown eyes bore into her father. "You think that'll be the case with me and P?" Britain questioned in a faint voice.

Jeremy shrugged his shoulders. He couldn't be the one to tell Britain the fate of her relationship with Priest, but he knew better than to spill her theif you guys are meant to be, you guys will come back togetherbullshit. He had convinced himself of that the entire time he was away from Seven. Little did he know, she had gotten married and made a house a home without him. He couldn't give Britain false hope, not in a situation like this. She loved Priest too much. "I don't know, Brit," he answered her.

"Right," she said as she pulled her hands from her father's hold.

Jeremy sighed deeply as Britain continued getting ready to leave. She was avoiding her feelings just so she could be there for Priest. Jeremy kept his comments to himself and just allowed her to do what she needed to do.

"I'm fine, Dad," Britain assured her father after thanking him for aiding her into the car. She had intentions of driving to the trial on her own, but to her surprise, Cyro was waiting for her in the parking lot. Priest didn't want to take his chances today with Britain.

Jeremy sighed as he nodded his head, despite being unconvinced. The train wreck of emotions he walked in on last night just wouldn't have managed to pull it together and be fine the following morning. "I believe you." He smiled lightly at her. "Finish drinking that tea. Hopefully you can get your voice back."

Britain glanced at the travel canteen of hot tea her father made for her and her lost voice. Smiling, she thanked him once more. "Thank you for everything," she expressed her gratitude.

"I'll do anything for you." He winked at her like he always did. "Keep your chin up when you get in there."

Britain nodded her head with a smile. "Got it," she said to him before saying her goodbyes. Cyro raised the dark window before pulling out of the parking space and onto the main road.

Britain let out a sigh. Before Priest broke the news to her about his move to Italy, she definitely didn't expect to be riding alone this morning. Usually, she would be hand in hand with Priest as they prayed for a smooth sailing day. Things were different now. She needed to be prepared, though. Priest was leaving after all.

Britain was jolted from her thoughts by the sound of Cyro's voice tunneling through her ears. "I was told to ask if you were okay," he said to her, his eyes briefly shifting from the road to the rear-view mirror.