Page 73 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

AVERY

I check my bank account at nine the next morning. True to his word, Maddox has transferred five hundred thousand dollars into it. I take a deep breath and release the tension I didn’t know I carried inside.

Seeing Victor yesterday shook me far more than I’m willing to admit. Going back to Surrey… Even the thought makes my stomach churn. I’d been miserable in Victor’s home. I’d had to account for every pound I spent, every minute of my time. I’d been a prisoner there.

Would I have gone back to him to save my mother? Thanks to Maddox, I’ll never have to find out.

I pour myself a cup of coffee with shaking hands and dial my parents’ Chelsea home. My father picks up on the third ring. “It’s Avery,” I tell him.

He sounds surprised to hear from me. “Hello.”

That’s not the warmest greeting in the world. Maybe I interrupted him in the middle of something. Or maybe my mother’s taken a turn for the worse. “Is mum okay?”

“As well as can be,” he replies.

I take a deep breath. “I have the money,” I tell him. “Send me your banking details, and I’ll wire it to you. It might take a couple of days to get to you, but it should be in your account by the end of the week.”

“You have the money?” He sounds like he doesn’t quite believe me. “All of it? Already?”

You’re welcome, dad. “Five hundred thousand dollars,” I reply. “I checked this morning’s exchange rate. It should be enough for mum’s treatment.”

“But how?” he splutters.

What’s with the questions? “A friend loaned it to me.”

“A friend?” His voice sharpens with suspicion.

I count three to make myself calm down. My father’s not himself. The stress of my mother’s illness has got to be getting to him. I need to be more patient, more understanding. “Yes, father. A friend. Is mum around? Can I talk to her?”

“She’s not at home. She’s having tea with Lady Wessop.”

The hair on the back of my neck rises. Lady Alice Wessop had been one of Victor’s closest friends.

More than anyone, she’d made me feel out of place and unwelcome.

She’d been quite infatuated with Victor, and I think our sudden marriage had taken her by surprise.

During the two years I’d been married to Victor, she’d been endlessly critical of everything I wore, did or said.

She would constantly complain about me to him.

“I don’t mean to tell tales, darling,” she’d say.

“But I was at your house yesterday, and your wife was in the kitchen, chopping vegetables along with the help. Do tell her that’s not done, would you? ”

Of course, Victor would fly into a rage and yell at me for befriending all the wrong people.

It isn’t as if my parents didn’t know. I’d told them everything when I left Victor, convinced that they’d understand why I couldn’t go back to him.

And now, my mother’s having tea with Alice Wessop. “I didn’t know they were in touch,” I say carefully, gripping the phone so hard that my knuckles turn white.

“Oh yes. They’re quite good friends,” Jeremy Welch replies carelessly. “Have been for years. I’ll get your mother to ring you when she returns.”

Still no thanks. No ‘good job, Avery.’

They’re your parents, Avery. Stop being selfish.

“Do you know when the immunotherapy treatments will begin? If you need, I can fly to Germany. I’m sure you could use the help.”

“No, no.” He dismisses my concern. “There’s no need. I’m sure you have your own life to live.”

“I care about mum’s health, father.”

“We all do,” he says sharply.

I stare blankly into the distance, vaguely disconcerted, wondering what the hell just happened.

It’s probably nothing. Father was never good at dealing with illness, and he’s got to be under a lot of pressure now. Besides, he hasn’t talked to you in years. There’s bound to be some awkwardness there.

“Mum’s going to be fine,” I say gently, wishing there wasn’t this distance between us. “She’ll pull through. She’s always been a fighter, you know that.”

“Yes, yes, I know. I have to run, Avery.”

He hangs up.

I know it’s an unworthy thought, but the way my father’s treating me right now, I feel like an ATM and nothing more.