Page 1 of Pretty Lies (Watch Me Burn #1)

CHAPTER ONE

RORY

“ Y ou’re joking, right?” I exclaimed as I crossed my arms tightly against my chest and glared at my father. This was typical of him, fucking with my life whenever he wished and not caring about how it affected me.

He gave me a stern look from his seat behind the large wooden desk, his voice rough with warning.

“Aurora Donovan, don’t fucking argue with me.

Josie is a lovely woman, and she’s excited to meet you.

Thanks to her connections, she graciously got you a place at Ashburn Valley Academy.

It’s a wonderful opportunity, you should be grateful. ”

I hated not having control, and I had no intention of being grateful for yet another adult forcing me into something I didn’t want.

I had no idea where he’d been going lately, and I honestly hadn’t given a fuck. He was rarely home, just how I liked it, only stopping by to make my life miserable when he felt like it.

It must have been getting serious between them though if she was offering to fund my education. That was some stepmommy kind of bullshit.

My jaw clenched as we continued to glare at each other, neither of us backing down.

“I didn’t ask for a new school, or a new mommy .

She doesn’t need to butter me up to make me like her, she’s more than welcome to have you.

It’s my final year, so why can’t I just stick it out a little longer at Hawthorne Heights High?

” I snapped, hurt and anger lacing my tone.

He didn’t give a shit about me, I was nothing but a pain in his ass, and I was surprised that he hadn’t sold me in the skin trade or something.

Max Donovan was proof that the mighty could fall, but that didn’t mean he’d lost all of his dodgy connections. He just had to call them from his dusty old office now instead of by the pool with a scotch in hand like he used to.

It had been a long time since I’d called him Dad, he didn’t deserve it.

As far as I was concerned, when I turned eighteen in a few months, I’d be able to leave and never come back.

He could fucking rot for all I cared.

His attention returned to the paperwork in front of him as he answered, attempting to dismiss me as if he had important work to do. He was nothing but a fraud, a fallen corrupt businessman with the delusion that he still had it all.

“I didn’t ask to have a spoiled, bratty daughter, but I sure as hell got one. We’ll discuss your lack of education later. You’re close to being kicked out of school anyway. You’ll catch up if you try, you’ve only missed the first week.”

One of the guys at school had tried to shove his hand up the front of my shirt last year, so I’d pulled my knife on him. I got suspended from school with a welcome home backhand from Max, and the guy who’d assaulted me got offered counseling for the traumatic experience I’d put him through.

As if Hawthorne Heights High even had those kinds of things to offer. They barely had a curriculum, let alone teachers with a damn teaching degree.

I let out a snort, rolling my eyes. “How the hell am I spoiled? We’re broke, thanks to the debts that you keep racking up. You can’t even buy me fucking tampons, which are a necessity, by the way, let alone spoil me. That’s the only reason you like this woman from Ashburn, isn’t it? She has money.”

There was no other reason for his affections towards her, and I hoped for her sake that she organized a prenup if this relationship of theirs turned serious.

It never took Max long to lose his patience, so I wasn’t surprised when he slammed his fist down onto his desk, his dark blue eyes boring into my light blue ones.

“Josie and her son are expecting us! Go and get ready so we can leave!”

I threw my hands out to the side, motioning to my outfit. “I am ready.”

“Like hell, Aurora. You need to make a good impression. Tattered jeans and a ripped shirt won’t work on that side of Ashburn Valley, you know that,” he gritted out, and I frowned as I looked down at my outfit with annoyance.

The black, ripped skinny jeans and white crop-top didn’t look that bad.

I thought I looked alright for a casual meet and greet.

“I always wear this,” I said flatly.

“Exactly. Find something nice to wear, for fuck’s sake.

Just because we live in the Heights, doesn’t mean we have to act like it,” he replied, disgust lining his tone as he dropped his eyes back to the paperwork in front of him.

I had no idea what he was actually doing, he’d lost his last job months ago.

He’d kept a handful of expensive suits when the bank had taken our home in Ashburn Valley when I was a little girl, but I had nothing but memories of our old life.

My life changed forever that day.

“This is my nice outfit. Unless you want me to wear sweats or my pajamas? I’ll wait for you by the door.”

He was such a prick. If I didn’t get away from him for five minutes, I was going to do something stupid. Like stab him.

I stalked from his office and along the hallway, shoving my black combat boots on once I was by the front door.

My back pressed against the wall as I waited for him, and I scowled when ten minutes passed without any sign of him.

My fingers combed through my long, black hair, and I tied it up in a high messy ponytail, knowing he’d hate it.

I knew I shouldn’t push him, but I couldn’t help it.

Max finally emerged from his office a whole thirty minutes later, shaking his head at me with irritation as he walked past to grab his car keys from the small table by the door.

“You could at least pretend to like the idea of us having access to money again. You don’t have to get a job as a stripper on your birthday now.” He stepped outside, looking back at me. “Josie would love to take you shopping for some girl time. You can get some nice clothes and a haircut.”

I gave him a dirty look before walking out the door behind him, disgust seeping out of me in waves.

“I still need a job because I’m not a sponge on society like you, so Josie won’t be taking me out to buy anything. I don’t give a shit about her money, you proved that money doesn’t mean happiness. I’ve had to look after myself for a long time, so I’ll be fine without her charity.”

He was such a freeloading piece of shit.

Once we were in the car, he sighed in defeat, a softer tone in his voice. It was fake, it always was.

“Look, I know you miss your mother, but Josie?—”

“You make it sound like Mom’s dead. She just couldn’t stand you and your mountain of debt. When I turn eighteen, I’ll find her, and we’ll never have to see you again. You got that?”

He always pushed my thoughts of Mom aside, and I hated it.

“She left without you all those years ago because she didn’t want you, Aurora. Stop living in your head with your happy stories of having a home with her again,” he said in a low voice and started the engine, causing my chest to ache.

He was wrong, I knew Mom still wanted me.

We drove a town over to Ashburn Valley in silence, my face twisting into a scowl as Max turned onto a long driveway, a massive mansion coming into view with a large fountain in the front.

He stopped the car by the huge garage doors, my eyes scanning the property with discomfort.

An iron fence lined the entire perimeter, and the gardens were well maintained, not a single weed in sight.

I couldn’t believe it belonged to Max’s latest piece of ass. He’d never managed to get a woman this rich into bed before.

“Bit much, isn’t it?” I asked dryly as I turned to him. “Who is she? The fucking queen? You could park forty cars on this driveway.”

Our piece of shit car being here probably dropped the property value. If the neighbors were able to see into the yard, they’d definitely be gossiping right now while calling the cops to report suspicious activity.

He ignored me, climbing out of the car and making his way up the fancy steps, a smile on his face as the huge door opened and a slender, blonde woman walked out to greet him. She looked younger than Max, and her smile was big enough to light up a damn room.

She seemed sweet, but I didn’t trust her. I didn’t trust anyone, especially those with money.

I stepped out of the car but hung back until Max gave me a frustrated glance.

“Josie, this is my daughter, Aurora.”

Josie’s smile widened somehow as I approached, but I dodged her as she tried to hug me, not that she seemed to be offended by my lack of affection.

“It’s nice to meet you, Aurora. Your father’s told me so much about you.”

I’d bet money on it all being bullshit too.

He either told her I was a troubled kid that he couldn’t control, or made me out to be a sweet girl who was going through a phase.

“I prefer Rory,” I answered tensely, keeping my distance.

“Well, Rory, come inside and make yourself at home. Would you like some sparkling water? Your father mentioned that they’re your favorite.”

I gave Max the side-eye before replying calmly, not wanting to sound rude. It wasn’t her fault that my dad was a dick.

“He’s trying to make me appear civilized. I hate sparkling water. It tastes like television static in a bottle.”

A genuine laugh left her as she led us inside the big-ass mansion, and I tried hard not to be intimidated by everything. It literally smelled like money in here. Leather, bleach, and a floral fragrance that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

It looked like a showroom, not a family home.

The corners of her painted red lips lifted into a small smile at my attitude.

“My son will like you. He’s in the gym at the moment, I’m sorry.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise. Of course they had a fucking gym right here in their home.

“You have your own gym?”