Dare to Love by user (read dune TXT) 📗

smile. “I know you will, Daddy.” She headed down to the cafeteria, but when she got in line realized she’d left her purse in the closet in her father’s room. Rolling her eyes at her stupidity, she took the

elevator back up to the floor, then hoping not to awaken her father, tiptoed toward his

room. She stopped just short of the doorway when she heard laughter and low voices.

“You’re a much better actor than anyone gives you credit for, Ray.” Lucy frowned. That was Alex’s voice. She pressed her back against the outside wall

and listened.

“Believe me, it’s no easy feat feigning a heart attack. And being poked and prodded

and stuck with needles was no picnic, either. But all worth it in the long run.”

“Having Lucy’s boyfriend storm in and throw you against the wall was perfect,” Alex said.

“Yes. And all I had to do was breathe in and out rapidly. Made me hyperventilate until I almost passed out. Lucille fell for it.”

“Will you press charges against Jake for assault?”

“Oh I don’t know. I think putting a halt to his construction project was more than enough. And with Lucille bound to my side for the foreseeable future, I think we’ve

driven the stake in quite deeply enough, don’t you think?”

“It’s never enough, Ray,” Alex said with a smug laugh.

“It’s only a matter of time now. Lucille will come to see the benefit of sticking with me, and eventually she’ll see you’re the bright spot in her future. Be patient.” Lucy put her hand to her rapidly pounding heart. She wanted to sink to the floor in

frustration and utter rage.

She’d been used! Jake had been right all along. About everything. About her father,

about the construction permits. Her father had used her, had used Jake.

Dear God, the man was a monster. All these years she had stood by him, hoping that

somehow he would see her…that he would love her. That somehow he would wake up

and be the father she had always wanted, had always needed.

It would never happen. She had made a critical mistake.

He didn’t love her. Her father didn’t love her. No man who loved his child would do

this.

She was shaking so hard she almost couldn’t remain upright. She wanted to run, down the hall, down the elevator and out the door, not face this. Never face him again.

But she couldn’t. She was a Fairchild. The thought made her shudder, but she couldn’t hide from who she was.

The frightened child craving love was pushed aside, replaced instead by the angry woman who didn’t need anything from the man inside that room.

She had to pull it together. Fury gave her focus for what she had to do. Taking in a shuddering breath, she shored up her strength and pivoted, stepping into the room with a

smile plastered on her face.

“Oh, Lucille. I didn’t expect you back so soon,” her father said, making sure his voice sounded weak and pathetic.

“I’m sure you didn’t, Father.” She nodded to Alex. “Alex.”

“Lucy. I just came by to—”

“Celebrate?” she finished for him. At her father’s shocked look, she said, “Oh, I heard everything you and Alex said, Father, so don’t bother playing the innocent cardiac

patient any longer.”

She turned to Alex. “I would sooner marry a monkey than marry you, Alex. Your touch makes my skin crawl. Don’t ever darken my door with your presence again.” With

a tilt of her head, she said, “Get out of my sight before I start screaming.” Alex made a hasty exit and she turned her attention on her father. “As for you.

Today, I’m embarrassed to call myself a Fairchild. You are mean, manipulative and a

vicious bastard, Raymond. No, I will never call you father again, because the term is an

endearment and I’ve lost all heart for you. To treat Jake, and to treat me, like pieces on a

chessboard that you can move at your own pleasure, is vile and despicable. You are lower

than the scum in the gutters.

“I love, Jake. I know you don’t understand that because the word love is foreign to you. I don’t deserve him, because he’s better than me. Better than us. You’ll never get

that. But now, thanks to you, and thanks to my blind stupidity, I’ve lost him. The only

man I ever loved. And I can’t even really blame you for that, because it’s my fault.”

“Lucille, I—”

“Do not ever speak to me again. You are no longer my father. Or my business partner. I’ll send someone for my things at the house. I will not live with you, and I will

not work with you. I do not in any way wish to be associated with a man who is so utterly

heartless. You make me sick.”

She went to the closet, grabbed her purse, and walked out, ignoring the stricken, pale

look on her father’s face, along with the tears she was sure had been manufactured for her

benefit.

Fake. It was all fake. The man didn’t have a genuine emotion to spare for her. He never had. He never would. That realization hurt much more than she ever thought it

could.

She had spent her entire life doing everything she could to earn his love, his attention. And for what? So he could manipulate her, treat her like a commodity?

Her eyes were open now.

Had she hurt him by what she’d said, by walking out on him? She doubted it.

Maybe

irritated him because his scheme didn’t work and he hadn’t won. And that made her sad.

Why had her father turned out this way, so devoid of emotion, of caring?

Not her problem. She shouldn’t care. He would reap what he sewed, and she would

feel no pity for him. She’d sided with him for far too long, bought into his manipulations,

and it had cost her everything.

Everything that had been so important to her.

Including the man she loved.

Jake was hoping he wouldn’t run into Lucy when he came up to Raymond Fairchild’s room. He wasn’t going there to see her, anyway. He was going to see Raymond. And he wasn’t going to beg for leniency. He didn’t deserve