Page 379 of Double or Nothing

He slams his fist down.

“The auction was a joke. Reid was playing a stupid game. As if anything you’d ever splash around a canvas would be worth over seven figures. It’s quite frankly ridiculous.”

Once upon a time, not so long ago, his words would have cut me to shreds. Fed into my imposter syndrome and sent me to hell.

It’s the certainty in his eyes. The strength in his shoulders. The way he always carries himself so regally, setting the tone and laying down the rules. I’ve just been too naïve to see it.

He’s been playing far more of a game than Jack ever has, and I’m nothing but a pawn in it. A stupid, childish pawn with hopes too high in the clouds to ever see reality. Too scared to ever take a leap of faith.

Not with my artwork, and not with Bryce, either.

Bryce has been living in the same reality that I have. Ever since Dad took him under his wing.

It took a wild card like Jack Reid to break the illusion, and thank God he did.

I stand up from my seat, unable to stop the tears falling down my face.

I wrestle my damn engagement finger off and slam it on the table.

“I’m leaving.”

Dad stands up.

Mum tries to take my arm, but I shake her off.

“Sit down, Alice,” he says. “Get your head together and see the truth for what it is. The real truth.”

“The real truth? That’s rich!”

Dad points at Christopher.

“Do you think Chris expects this union to be the romantic ideal dreams are made of? No, of course not. You’ve made it pretty clear that’s not the case. Do you think you’ll both be bound to a relationship neither of you wants on anything but paper? No. Just proceed with the wedding, give the Parker Otley family an heir, and enjoy whatever slutty frivolities you like so long as they don’t tarnish the family name.”

I stare at him in shock.

“What?”

“Spread your legs for casino playboys all you like, so long as they don’t produce Parker DNA. You’ll get plenty of time to hang out with Bryce and your delusional art friends too, since he no longer has a career to his name. Just do what you’re told, keep family orders in line, and be the wayward dreamer all you like once your duties are done.”

“My duties?”

“Yes, your duties. It’s the least you owe us after everything we’ve given you.”

Christopher takes a big gulp of wine. Mum covers her mouth with her hands.

“Somebody needed to say it,” Dad says. “If you’re too infatuated with a fool to see straight, then it needs spelling out for you. This isn’t going to be monogamy. It’s going to be duty.”

“Lies! It’ll all be lies!”

His sneer is horrible. Nasty.

“It’ll be life, Alice. It’s not all unicorns and happy ever afters. It’s responsibility.” He gestures to my chair. “Now, sit down. Every single thing you own is down to the Parker name. Every single item in your possession comes from our enterprise, not yours. Don’t be a reckless fool like Bryce was, and throw it all away for some piss poor ideal of morality.”

Looking at the soulless materialism in my father’s face brings it home more than words ever could.

This is what being a Parker means.

Money at the expense of everything else. Image and stature far more important than morality.