Page 115 of Broken Beauty

“Okay,” he says, wanting me to keep going.

“Well, I want the savings she wanted to give me. I know I'm supposed to get it when I'm twenty but I don't want to wait. I want the money now.”

My father's eyebrows furrowed. “What is this about? Why do you want her money now? I pay for almost everything for you? Don't you want to keep that money for when you really need it?”

“No. I want to someday move away from California and get a job. I am looking at paid internships and I want to start being independent instead of being dependent on you. I want my mom's savings so that I can buy an apartment for myself.”

“Where do you plan on moving?”

“Manhattan, New York. The internship is there and I want to take it. The pay is good and I know that with my mom's help I can do it.”

“You are supposed to be waiting until you're twenty, bug.”

“I'm not going to wait until then. Not when you're threatening my mom's savings.” I see panic fill my father's eyes. “Ash told me what happened. I'm going to keep seeing him dad, I love him and he loves me too.”

“You are making a horrible decision by being with him, Ariella. He is like his father but ten times worse. Did he tell you what he has done?”

Yes, and it broke my heart to pieces.

I hated seeing him cry and in pain. I hated seeing all the blood and glass.

I now have a new worst fear.

Ash told me that he never wants to talk about his mother again but that doesn't mean he wants me to stop talking about my mom.

He said he wants to hear everything about my mom and how much I love her.

I do want to bring him to meet her one day.

“Yes, he told me and it wasn't his fault. If you knew exactly what happened then you would agree. Now, I am going to get mom's savings and if you don't give it to me willingly then I will bring a lawyer in. And you won't like the lawyer I'll be bringing in.”

My dad's eyes turn into slits as he glares at me. “You wouldn't.”

“I would. I will bring in Levi Jones if I have to.”

My father nips his bottom lip. “Just know, if he breaks your heart, the first thing I'll say to you is 'I told you so'.”

“Is it a yes, or no?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

My dad’s jaw clenches and ticks before he says, “It's a yes. Give me a few days and I'll have all of the money sent to your bank.”

Fifty-Six

Ash

Present

“So, tell me why you're here today, Ash.”

Sitting across from me is my therapist.

Doctor Jameson Cole.

It’s ironic how his name is Jameson when Ariella’s favorite author’s name is Jameson.

He looks like he is in his thirties. He has dark brown hair and dark brown eyes to match. He is wearing black framed glasses. His glasses aren't like the little tiny circle glasses. They are like just normal nerd glasses. Not like the ones from the movies, like the ones that nerds wear in real life.

He is a good-looking guy for someone in his thirties. He probably has a pretty wife at home with a kid who is raised well.