Chanelle pursed her lips and tossed again her hair, her expression defiant.

‘Not your girlfriend,’ his father repeated slowly, ‘but in addition not a stranger.’ He regarded Maeve up and down with derision. ‘In different phrases, she’s your whore.’

Leo sucked in a breath at that outrageous insult, his imaginative and prescient clouding with a pink haze of fury. With out considering, he took three brief strides ahead and got here bang as much as his father, staring straight into his eyes, the 2 of them now a naked few inches away from one another.

‘What the hell did you simply say?’

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

His father blinked in shock, hesitating as he scanned Leo’s face, then stated with deliberate provocation, ‘You heard me.’

Leo’s fists clenched by his aspect. ‘In the event you weren’t my father,’ he started, his voice low and harmful, however felt a hand tug his sleeve, and turned to look down into Maeve’s face.

‘Don’t, it’s not value it,’ she stated quietly. ‘Plus, he’s your father, bear in mind?’

Because the pink haze dissipated from his imaginative and prescient, frequent sense returned. Leo shook his head like somebody popping out of water. ‘You’re proper, he’s not value it. However you’re, Maeve.’ He turned again to his father, drawing himself up straight. He knew what he needed to do. It was one thing he had been avoiding for years. However the time had come. ‘I’ve had sufficient. I can’t reside like this any longer. You don’t deserve me.’

His father gave a puff of laughter. ‘What does that imply?’ he demanded in his common hectoring approach, squaring his shoulders as Leo selected to retreat. Little question his father felt he’d received that confrontation. However he was improper.

‘I’m leaving Château Rémy,’ Leo stated crisply. ‘I’ll pack my stuff tonight and be out of right here tomorrow. I’ll go away a breakdown of the present enterprise so that you can look over at your leisure. By the best way, Henri needs the household to go to for Aunt Beatrice’s birthday. And he wants assist with the fireplace state of affairs on the cave. Bear in mind I advised you about that?’

His voice was matter-of-fact, his anger having fallen away now that he had made his resolution. And it was the best resolution, he was positive of it. He already felt lighter, his burdens slipping away…

‘You may’t go away.’ His father was looking at him, his expression incredulous. ‘You’re wanted right here.’

‘I solely took over when Francis died as a result of I didn’t need to go away my grandmother struggling on her personal. I knew you wouldn’t trouble coming dwelling to assist her. Anyone needed to take care of her and Nonna. And Bernadette was nonetheless in school on the time. It wouldn’t have been honest to ask her to step up. However she’s older now and has a good grasp of the household enterprise. And also you’re right here with Chanelle. So I’m not vital.’

‘You haven’t received anyplace to go,’ Sébastien identified cruelly.

‘No, however I’ve mates. I’ll kind one thing out.’

‘And what is going to you do for cash? Since you received’t get a penny from me.’

‘You’ve by no means paid me a correct wage for working the enterprise. It’s time to gather on that debt.’ He paused, including softly, ‘Even when I’ve to take you to courtroom for what’s as a consequence of me.’

‘Take me to courtroom?’ his father echoed, trying astonished. ‘I’ll battle you. Anyway, you probably did it for love, you’ve simply admitted as a lot your self. And in return for mattress and board right here on the château.’ His father threw up his arms. ‘How many individuals get to reside someplace like this without spending a dime? It’s best to rely your self fortunate.’

Leo gave a humourless snigger. ‘Oh sure, I’m so fortunate…’ He shook his head. ‘I’m not staying, Dad, so that you would possibly as nicely face it. And I’ll pot-wash if I have to. Not less than I’d be unbiased finally. Although given how a lot I’ve learnt these previous few years, working the enterprise, I’m assured I’ll discover good work quickly sufficient. And my artwork might even begin to help me once more, now that I’ve gone again to portray.’

He moved in regards to the room, mechanically accumulating issues he would want to take with him. He must prepare for a few of his work to be put into storage, in case it received broken, left right here alone along with his father and Chanelle. His father may not sabotage his work, however he didn’t belief Chanelle and wouldn’t put something previous her.

With a shock, he realised Liselle must be advised. She would have a meltdown when she heard that he was leaving. And Grandmère could be distraught. That hit him onerous. However he couldn’t reside his life for different folks anymore. He wanted to get freed from this place earlier than it killed him.

‘Are you okay?’ he stopped to ask Maeve, nonetheless livid on the approach his father had spoken about her.

To his reduction, she nodded, seeming calm sufficient. If anybody had spoken like that to Liselle, she would have screamed and scratched their eyes out. Maeve was product of sterner stuff.

‘You may’t be critical,’ his father stammered. ‘You may’t go away, Leo. I received’t hear of it. I received’t allow you to go. You may’t count on me to run the enterprise… I don’t have the primary clue what you’ve been doing since I’ve been away.’ He took a deep breath. ‘I demand that you simply keep.’

‘I’m executed, dad. It’s over.’

‘However I’m your father. I’m chef de famille. You could obey me.’

‘Not taking place, sorry,’ Leo stated shortly, throwing open the studio door. ‘I’ll discuss to you later in regards to the enterprise. Now I would like to talk to Maeve alone.’

His father hesitated, then left, taking Chanelle with him. ‘We’ll discuss later, sure. And I’ll count on an apology.’

With a derisive snigger, Leo closed the door after him, turning directly to Maeve. ‘I’m sorry he spoke to you want that. If it had been some other man, I might have punched him for that. Please imagine me.’

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