Page 93 of Igniting Sparks

I plant my elbows on the table with a thud, my eyes wild with fury. “My life is not a fucking game for you to play and position at will.”

“How dare you.” Her voice is sharp, brittle. She grabs her wineglass like she might hurl it.

“I’m not done.” My volume rises, and a few patrons look in our direction.

“This is not how a lady behaves,” Bitsy hisses through clenched teeth.

“I’m not a lady, remember? I’m the offspring of the man you despise. The man who stole my mother, your crown jewel, from you. It must have burned you that a poor man with nostatus in society could convince her to leave it all behind. So, you made her pay, and you’re doing the same to me.”

“Mina.” Leo places a hand on my arm, but I shake him off.

“Let me finish. I thought deep down that you loved me. That you believed in me. But you never did. You invented this ridiculous situation, demanding I be married to inherit your studio. I see now what your endgame was.”

“I somehow doubt you see anything at all beyond your petulance.”

“You knew I was single, and you had an idea. Reunite Leo and me, because the Rothwell and Farnsworth families play golf at the same fucking country club. I’ll bet Leo’s family knows about it, too, don’t they? But then I introduced you to Braden and threw a monkey wrench into the plan.”

“Braden Hammond is not worthy of you.”

Oh, that is it.

“Actually, I’m not worthy ofhim. I begged him to play the part of my fiancé because I so desperately wanted your approval.” I swipe the tears from my eyes. “And he did. He bought me a ring—a real ring. He let me move into his house when I had nowhere to go. He carried me a mile down a trail when I hurt my ankle. And he put up with your horrid treatment, all to help me.”

Bitsy waves her hand around the table, a triumphant expression on her face. “See, Leo? I told you they weren’t really a couple. It was all a game.”

“No, you’re the one playing the game. I quit.” I stand and grab my purse, finishing the last swallow in my glass. “I see now I’ll never be good enough for you, but I was always good enough for Braden. I’m going to find the man I love and pray he’ll give me a second chance.”

Bitsy cocks a brow. “Are you sure that’s your best step?”

“What do you care? I’m just a pawn to you. And yes, he’s theonlything that matters.”

I storm away from the table, fully aware that half the patrons are watching the scene unfold.

Let them watch. Let them talk.

Who cares?

“Mina, wait a second.”

I spin on my heel and fix Leo with a glare. “Do not stop me.”

“I’m not.” He raises his hands in surrender. “I had no idea this was Bitsy’s plan. She told me Braden was trouble, and she worried that something might happen to you the longer you stayed with him. Should have known it was all a lie.”

“Why?”

He rolls his eyes. “Because our families lie. That’s what they do.” He nods toward the door. “Be careful driving. I’ll speak to Bitsy and see if I can’t work this out for you.”

“I don’t need your help, Leo.”

“Hey, we were friends once. That’s what friends do. Just let me talk to her.”

I suck in a breath and shrug. “Thanks, I guess. I really think the studio would have flourished with those changes, but I should have known it wasn’t about the studio. It was about me not being enough. Not being a Farnsworth.”

“You know, they don’t know the Farnsworths or the Rothwells in Los Angeles. Just saying.”

I smile through my tears. “Good to know you’re safe.”

“I’ll be in touch.”