“You can’t judge everyone by your standards, mother,” Arianna snapped.
Her mother narrowed her gaze. “And what does that mean?”
“It means not everyone wants something from me. Bain is with me because he likes me, he sees me, he doesn’t care about what I can do for him, or how much I’m worth.”
“And you’re saying that’s how your mother sees you?” her father barked. “She is your mother. The woman gave birth to you. You shall treat her with respect.”
“Like how the three of you treat me?” she asked quietly. “You’ve never once shown me any respect or care. As a child, you were embarrassed of me. You hid me away. I was a nuisance. Only once I was worth anything to you did you pay me any attention.”
Her mother waved her hand in the air. “Oh, for goodness sake, Arianna. Grow up. What did you want from us? To coddle you? To hold you every time you had a nightmare? Whatever we did, it was for your own good. If we’d catered to your issues it would have made them worse. You were always given the very best. And still you complain.”
It was pointless, they’d never understand.
“We’re getting off track,” Larry said impatiently. He moved around restlessly. “Arianna, you cannot be serious about moving to some backwater cabin with your bodyguard. You cannot leave your career. You have obligations. Do you think the royalties will just keep coming in, because believe me, they won’t. And when this ape dumps you and you’re out on your ass you’ll have nothing.”
Bain let out a low rumble which had Larry blanching. But she grasped hold of his arm.
“First of all, I know I have obligations, and I’ll fulfill those.”
Relief filled Larry’s face. “Good. I’ll get started on—”
“You misunderstand. I haven’t changed my mind. You’re no longer my agent, Larry. I’ll deal with the record label and what they want. I’ll find a new agent if necessary. But I no longer wish to work with you.” She turned to look at her family. “As for the rest of you, I’m not bankrolling your lifestyles anymore. I’m moving with Bain to Montana. I never wanted this life. I love creating music, but performing in front of huge audiences, all the publicity, the pushing myself to breaking point, it’s not something I want. I did it to please all of you. Because I thought I owed you. Because I thought that if I did what you wanted, you might love me. But my only worth to you was wrapped up in how much money I could make and that’s not right.”
She stared up at Bain. “I now know what it’s like to have someone actually love me. Someone who cares about me. Who puts me first. And it’s made me realize that I’ve never had that. You may keep anything I’ve bought for you, of course. But as of now, you’ll need to get jobs or live off what you have left in your accounts.”
“This is preposterous.” Her father jumped up and pointed at Bain. “This is your fault! We know you’re doing this because you want her money. I don’t know what you did to her, but I will find out.”
“This is all my fault.”
She frowned, glancing over at Larry as he shook his head, staring at her sadly. She tensed. Something was happening here. Something she didn’t understand. Larry looked far too happy for someone who had just been fired.
“What?” she asked.
“Bernadette, Frederick, I’m so sorry. I failed you both. You and your daughter.”
“What are you talking about? Failed how?” Arianna demanded.
“No, Larry,” her mother said sweetly. Her mother was only ever sweet when she was about to get her own way. Or stab someone in the back. “It’s not your fault. It’s ours. You are her agent; we are her family. It was up to us to look after her. Like we have done all our lives. But we thought she was doing better. Arianna, how long have you been off your drugs, dear?”
“What?” she asked, confused.
“Come now, you don’t need to pretend not to know what we’re talking about.” Her mother stood and walked closer. Arianna really wanted to step away, but she made herself stand her ground. She knew better than to show weakness. “Mr. Grady, I’m not sure what Arianna has told you about us, but I’m afraid you can’t really believe what she says. Not when she’s off her medication. She makes up wild stories about how we treat her. I bet she told you that we used to lock her in her room at night?”
“Preposterous,” her father stated. “We would never do that to our own daughter.”
She gaped at her father, betrayal hitting her hard. She knew they could lie. She knew they could be heartless. But she didn’t expect this.
“You did do that.” She turned to her sister. “Gabrielle, you remember that, right?”
Gabrielle kept her gaze on her manicure. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
She sucked in a breath. She would not cry. Maybe her sister didn’t remember, she’d been a child.
“Arianna, dear, why did you stop your medication? You know it helps with the delusions.”
“What delusions?”
“I’m afraid our daughter isn’t very well, Mr. Grady,” her mother said to Bain. Her face was filled with fake concern. “She hasn’t been well for a long time, but she manages with the help of medication. You see, unlike what she probably told you we never wanted her to enter this career. We thought the pressure of being in the spotlight would be too much of her and our worries have come true.”