Chapter 5
A heavy,
relentless thunderstorm rolled over the wealthy coast of Miami a few days later,
perfectly matching the gloomy,
pathetic fate of my former family.
I was sitting peacefully in the grand library,
enjoying a cup of hot,
soothing chamomile tea and reading a classic novel.
The heavy oak doors opened quietly,
and Blake's stoic,
imposing head of security stepped respectfully into the quiet room.
"Excuse me,
ma'am,"
the guard said politely,
keeping his hands folded neatly behind his broad back.
"Your father and sister are currently standing at the main security gates,
demanding to speak with you immediately."
I slowly closed my book,
setting it down on the antique mahogany table beside my comfortable chair.
"Are they causing a violent scene,"
I asked calmly,
feeling absolutely no fear,
only a mild,
tiring sense of annoyance.
"They are heavily soaked from the pouring rain,
ma'am,"
the guard reported,
his face remaining completely blank and professional.
"They are begging for a brief audience,
pleading for financial mercy and a second chance."
I thought about simply ignoring them,
letting them stand in the cold storm until they finally gave up and left.
But a small,
resolved part of me needed to see them one last,
final time,
to truly close this painful chapter of my life forever.
"Bring me an umbrella,"
I instructed the guard,
rising smoothly from my chair,
"I will go down to the gates and speak to them."
When I arrived at the massive,
wrought-iron security gates,
the sight before me was incredibly,
profoundly pathetic.
My father,
once a proud,
arrogant titan of industry,
was shivering violently in a cheap,
soaking wet trench coat.
Penelope stood right beside him,
her expensive hair matted to her pale face,
her designer shoes ruined by the thick,
muddy puddles.
"Please,"
my father begged,
gripping the cold iron bars with his desperate,
trembling hands as I approached under the shelter of a large umbrella.
"Tell your husband to back off,
tell him we are deeply,
truly sorry for everything."
"Julian is in federal prison,"
Penelope sobbed loudly,
tears streaming down her face and mixing with the heavy rain.
"We have absolutely nothing left,
they took our cars,
our beautiful home,
our entire inheritance."
I looked at them through the thick,
impenetrable iron bars,
feeling completely detached,
as if I were watching strangers on a television screen.
"You reaped exactly what you sowed,"
I told them,
my voice cutting clearly through the loud,
pounding rain.
"You pushed me into the freezing water,
you laughed at my pain,
and now you are drowning in a storm of your own making."
I turned my back on their frantic,
screaming pleas,
May you like
walking slowly and gracefully back toward the warm,
loving mansion that was now my forever home.
