Broken kingdom

Chapter 48 Bianca

“I don’t even know what to say right now,” Cole utters. “I keep hoping this is just a bad dream.” 

Jace mutters a curse. And then before anyone can stop him, he picks up a glass and throws it at the wall. 

“Fuck her.” 

I startle in my seat. “Jace—”

“No.” He turns his furious glare on me. “She almost killed you. And Liam.” A shudder runs through him and he closes his eyes. “I was always there for her. I did whatever she needed. I kept everything together in this house when she couldn’t even get out of bed.” He looks at our father. “I believed whatever she told me…all so she could cheat on Dad and try to kill her children before she offed herself.” 

“She was sick,” Dad croaks. “Your mother loved you very much, Jace.” Grief floods his face and he hangs his head. “She loved you all very much. You kids were her life.” He reaches across the table for my hand. “I wish you’d told me sooner, sweetheart. I could have gotten you into counseling—” 

Cole snorts. “Yeah, because look how well that worked out for Mom and Liam.” 

“Counseling wasn’t the problem,” I point out. “Dr. Young being a piece of shit was the problem.” My chest heaves as I avert my gaze. “So was me forcing Liam to keep Mom’s secret when he wanted to tell someone.” 

It’s something I’ll always have to live with. 

A mistake I’ll never forgive myself for.

Because I was the one who told him to be tough and resilient. 

To never let anyone inside…

To be silent when things are bad. 

And in the end, that silence ended his life.

Cole squeezes my shoulder. “Don’t do that, Bianca. You were just a little girl. You thought you were protecting Mom…your idol.” He slaps his chest. “If anyone is to blame for Liam’s death, we all know it’s me. He tried to talk to me that night and I wouldn’t fucking let him. His death is my cross to bear, not yours.” 

Dad slams his hand on the table. “Goddammit. Stop blaming yourselves. Liam and your mother were sick. I should have gotten Liam more help when I saw the signs, but I didn’t. I let it go when he threw a fit about seeing someone…because I was too wrapped up in my own grief to step up and parent. You all were kids, but I was the adult. I’m the one to blame. I crumbled when you needed me to be strong.” 

No one says a word. 

Except Jace. 

Who’s looking at our father with something I’ve never seen before. 

Pity. 

“You didn’t seem surprised to find out Mom was having an affair.” 

Dad tries to change the subject, but Jace won’t let him. 

“You knew she was cheating…didn’t you?” 

Dad’s green eyes turn dim. “People make mistakes, Jace. I didn’t want your mother to be remembered for hers.” He rubs his chest. “The only thing that matters is that you all know how much she loved you.” His voice cracks. “I want you to have good memories of her.” 

Jace’s jaw tenses. “You never cheated on her with your secretary, did you?” 

 “No.” He scrubs a hand down his face. “I won’t sit here and pretend I’m a saint. When things became bad in our marriage, I thought about it… but I could never go through with it. I loved her too much and I kept hoping we could work it out.” 

Jace looks so pissed that for a second I think he’s going to throw another glass. “You let me believe you were the one having the affair all these years.” 

“I tried to tell you I didn’t, but you wouldn’t believe me.” His voice is barely a whisper. “After a while, I stopped trying to convince you, because it was better you be angry with me than with her.” 

Jace looks so defeated I want to wrap my arms around him. 

“Dad.” 

It’s the first time Jace has called him that since…

He found Liam in his closet. 

When Dad looks at him, he utters, “I’m sorry.” 

Cole and I exchange a stu

Unless it’s to Dylan. 

As if on cue, Dylan and Sawyer enter the kitchen. 

Sawyer wraps her arms around Cole, and Dylan does the same to Jace. 

“Can we go see Liam?” Cole buries his head against Sawyer’s chest. “I want to talk to him.” 

She cups his face in her hands. “Of course we can.” 

Wordlessly, Dylan takes Jace’s hand and they start to walk out. 

But not before Jace stops to wrap me up in a hug. “I don’t know what the fuck to say. Just know that I love you.” 

I kiss his cheek. “I love you, too.” 

After they all leave, it’s just me and Dad who looks like he’s fighting back tears. 

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart.” 

I give him a hug. “It’s okay, Dad.” 

His green eyes become glassy. “No, honey. It isn’t.” 

He’s right, it’s not…but maybe one day it will be. 

The genuine sadness in his expression pulls at my heart. 

“I should have been there for you.” 

He’s not wrong, however, I know he was fighting his own battles. 

“It’s not too late to start now.” 

With a heavy sigh, I make my way out of the house. 

I sometimes wonder how different I’d be if these tragedies in my life didn’t happen. 

Would I still be the little girl who wanted to be a ballerina…the one who was so desperate to fit in with the rest of the world?

Or would I still have ended up the callous bitch…the one who’s wicked demeanor was a shell she built around her for protection. 

Either way…one thing still remains unchanged. 

Regardless of the amnesia, I’ve never known who I am, because home still feels like a fairy tale I’ve been searching for my whole life.

However, the moment my eyes land on Oakley who’s still waiting for me at the end of the driveway, just like he said he would…

I can’t help but think I’ve finally found it. 

Given Jace and Cole left before I did, I’m sure there was one hell of a confrontation he had to deal with. 

Not that he looks like he gives a single fuck about that. 

He watches me with concerned eyes before those safe arms wrap around me. “I’d ask if you’re okay, but…” 

But I’m not. 

The tips of his fingers press into the curve of my jaw. “What do you need?”

Just him.

“Can you take me somewhere?” I whisper. “I want to forget the world and disappear with you for a little while.” 

His warm breath and deep voice caress my skin. “You got it.”