I slipped off the ring and held it in my palm. “I’m staying.”
Jocelyn tapped her chin. “Maybe you’re smarter than I thought...”
She walked over to the large window and turned her back to the bright, cloudless day, leaning against the frame. “Let’s all settle in for a story about how one man used a family... bled them dry, all for his own greed.”
Chapter 19
Jenner
My sister was talking aboutPhil—what I had named the big secret I had kept for ten years. The thing that would destroy my career.
But I didn’t care about my career anymore.
I cared about Lola.
When Jocelyn finished her tale, Lola would never want me. I knew it, and I had to stop my sister.
“It all started with your father.” My sister pointed at Eric.
He held up his hands. “I know my father was an asshole. There’s no surprise there. I’m sorry if he was a jerk to you, but that has nothing to do with me or my sister.”
“Exactly, Jocelyn.” I took a step forward until I was close enough for only Joce to hear. “This isn’t about them... Don’t do this.”
She jerked her head back. “How long did it take for them to brainwash you, Jenner?” She smirked and glanced past me to Lola. “Or maybe you really do care for her? Fell in love with the hot piece of ass and forgot all about whatthat familydid to us.”
“What is she talking about, Jenner?” Lola asked.
I wouldn’t let my sister do this to her. If she wanted to hurt me, then she could. But I wouldn’t let her hurt Lola.
“She’s talking about how your father ruined our family.” I rubbed my brow. “It’s why I became a lawyer.”
“You told me you became a lawyer because some guy took advantage of your dad... That the asshole took him to court and drowned him in legal fees, ruining his business... bankrupting him,” Eric said.
“Yup. That’s true.” I nodded. “Only that guy was your dad.”
Lola gasped as Eric mumbled a curse word. I looked around the beautiful room. Even if the office needed some dusting, I couldn’t help but notice it was bigger and more stunning than the small apartment I grew up in.
The hardwood floors, which were covered by a thick Persian rug would have comfortably slept our family. Instead, we slept on old, flea-filled mattresses. I didn’t realize until I was in high school that it wasn’t normal to wake up with little bug bites all over your body.
“But that’s just why I worked on becoming a lawyer. I’ve long since gotten over my issues with that. I guess if a therapist were here, they’d say I had more issues with how my dad treated my mom than how your dad treated him.”
“Whatever,” Jocelyn growled behind me. “We all know our dad was a terrible person, but it wasn’t about that. What happened when our mom died...? What happened then?”
I clenched my fist as I turned to face my sister. “It doesn’t matter, Joce. For fuck’s sake, just drop it,” I spat through gritted teeth.
Why couldn’t my sister just move on? It was like that time alone in the wilderness just reinforced her anger, instead of her letting the past stay in the past.
She folded her arms, and with a glint in her eye that made my stomach churn, she said, “Fine. Then take back Mom’s ring.”
“What? Absolutely not. It’s my ring to give.”
“Is it, though?” She tilted her head. “You know Mom promised that ring to me. And then I found out later, she had promised it to Julietta. And then Jill announced it was hers. Toward the end, Mom wasn’t in her right mind, and you know that. Yet here you are claiming it as yours. Give it back.”
I shoved my hands on my hips. “So then what...? It’syours? According to your logic, the ring shouldn’t go to anyone.”
“Exactly.” Joce nodded.
I had to keep reminding myself that I loved my sister, but it was getting harder and harder to do.