Page 200 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol 4

"I don't think that's necessary," he said. "You were just leaving, right? If you'll excuse us. Have a nice day." He pulled his wife inside the house with him and closed the door in my face.

I didn't travel halfway across the country for nothing. I wasn't leaving until my stupid excuse for a mother wrote me a check. It wasn't like she didn't have the money. I pounded my fist on the door.

"Maria, it's fine," I heard him say from the other side of the door. "I'll handle it. You call the cops." The door opened. Richard stood there, with his wife nowhere in sight. His expression had turned cold. "My wife has already warned you. She's calling the police right now."

"You don't understand."

"I understand that I've already warned you once and..."

"I'm her daughter." I didn't want to intentionally throw Elena under the bus. I hadn't come here to ruin her life. I had come here to save my dad's.

"I'm sorry?" He shook his head and stared at me again. "That's impossible. You're too old to be Maria's daughter. My wife is only 32."

So she lied to her new husband about more than just her name. That wasn't surprising at all. "She's 38. And her name is Elena."

"You must have the wrong house." He looked confused.

"I don't have the wrong house." I was getting exasperated. " She had me when she was 16. You must see the similarities. You must see how much I look like her."

He shook his head.

"Your name is Richard, right?"

His lips parted, but then he closed them again and nodded.

"Richard, my whole life I've felt unwanted. She left me and my dad and started a family with you. She chose you over us. And I always wondered what I did wrong. Why I wasn't good enough. I wouldn't be here if I didn't need to be. It kills me to beg her for money. But my father is dying. And I know she has money to spare. I haven't asked her for anything in 15 years. And I'll never ask her for anything again. Of either of you. And I'll pay you back. Every dime."

He seemed to be staring at me, studying my facial expressions.

I felt like I was winning him over. "You're a father. You understand a bond between a father and daughter. Please help me so I don't lose my dad. Please."

"I'm sorry, I don't..." his words died away.

"She's not who she says she is. She's been lying to you."

He looked over his shoulder and then back at me. "How old did you say you were?"

"I'm 22."

He lowered his eyebrows and shook his head. "I'm sorry...it's just...it's not possible."

"Please believe me."

"I will not stand here and listen to this slander." He nodded his head as if he was trying to convince himself.

"Please, Richard, I just..."

This time he slammed the door in my face.

I pounded my fist against the door again.No.I hadn't faced my fears of seeing her just to leave feeling like this. She wasn't allowed to abandon me when I needed her again. She wasn't allowed to make me feel second best anymore, with her new family and her fancy house. My whole life it felt like there wasn't enough room in her heart for me in addition to her new family. News flash, Elena. There was room for me. I pounded my fist on the door again.

My whole life I had convinced myself that if she didn't need me, I didn't need her either. And I thought I'd be able to hold on to that notion. So why was I falling apart? I truly didn't need her. I didn't need my mom. I wrapped my arms around myself and let myself start to cry. Because the truth was, no matter how many times I told myself otherwise, I did need her. I wanted to be first in her life. I wanted me and my dad to be the family she chose. I wanted there to be room for me in her heart. My whole life I had felt rejected. Abandoned. And now my dad was going to die. I was going to be left all alone. Didn't she see that? Didn't she see how much she was hurting me? I needed her. I needed her help and I hated that I needed it. I hated myself for believing that she might actually help me.

I heard sirens wailing in the distance. I didn't have money to post bail. I didn't even have enough money to fly back home. My knees tried to give out as I ran down their front steps. But I keptrunning. I needed to get home to my dad. I couldn't end up in some prison in Pasadena. I grabbed my duffel bag from behind the bush and froze.

Tyler's car was sitting at the end of the driveway.He waited for me.And my heart broke into a million tiny pieces.He waited for me.

Missing Pieces - Chapter 40