Chapter 15
“You’re a fucking disappointment.” Silas, Richard’s father, spat with disgust in his voice.
Richard clenched his jaw in annoyance as his father scolded him.
“Look at how you’ve thrown the Thorne name into the mud. Our business investors are losing their trust in us, and they’re pulling away.” He sneered.
“You were almost killed in Italy, and I’ve spent millions trying to keep the police in Italy, and America, from arresting you for your stupidity.”
“Do you have any idea of the multiple charges that you’re facing, you stupid boy?” Silas spat.
Richard clenched his fists, keeping his eyes on the floor as his father scolded and insulted him.
“You killed your own son, for that whore! If I had killed you, I wouldn’t be having these problems that I’m having now because of you!”
“You’re just bringing shame to me, and the family business! The Thorne Mafia family is losing its respect because of you!”
“Do you even know who Killian Romano is?” His father snapped.
Richard glared at his father. He had had enough. “I don’t fucking care who he is. I will get June back, no matter what!”
Silas sneered at Richard. “You’re not going anywhere near Killian or June. You’re grounded.”
Richard gave his father an incredulous look. “Grounded? I am not a child!”
Silas glared at him. “You’ve been acting like one. I am grounding you. You’re not permitted to gc to Italy anymore.”
Richard gritted his teeth in fury as he realized that his father was serious.
“You can’t do this to me, father.” He growled.
Silas rolled his eyes, turning from him. “Get out of my sight,” he sneered, walking away, leaving Richard standing there, shaking with rage.
Richard got home still pissed off. He had been so close to getting June back, but that bastard, Killian, had interfered.
Where had all those armed men that had started shooting came from anyway? How did Killian get that type of security?
Richard shook his head, it didn’t matter. Next time, he would do better, and make sure that he made no mistakes.
He winced as he remembered how he had mistakenly shot June. He hadn’t meant to. He had just gotten so angry, and had lost control, but luckily she was okay now. When he saw her next, he would explain, and she would understand.
Richard entered the house, slamming the door shut behind him, his mind raced with several thoughts. The sound of sobs reached his ears, and he paused.
April sat curled up on the couch, holding her phone with trembling hands. Her makeup was smeared from crying, and she looked like a mess. The TV in front of her was muted, but the headlines flashing on the screen was enough for Richard to understand what was going on.
Chapter 15
7:42 pm G D OD
“April Winslow Exposed: The True Betrayer?”
“The Real Truth Behind June and Richard’s Divorce”
April turned to him with red, puffy eyes, and tears running down her face. “Richard,” she sobbed out, standing up. “Did you see it? The comments, the headlines–everyone is insulting and cursing me!”
Richard ignored her, walking past her, heading toward the bar. He poured himself a drink, and took a sip, releasing a sigh. His mind wasn’t on April’s problems. He was thinking about June.
“Richard,” April’s voice shook, and her hands clenched into fists. “Say something! They ruined me! I can’t even go outside without being called a whore!”
Richard exhaled in annoyance, placing his glass down. “You should have been more careful,” he
muttered.
April’s mouth fell open in shock. “Are you serious? That’s all you have to say?”
Richard pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. “I have bigger things to worry about, April.” “Bigger things?” she repeated, shrieking in disbelief. “Richard, I am carrying your child! Your only child! What about me? What about us?”
Richard finally turned to look at her, with annoyance. “There is no ‘us,‘ April. I am trying to get June back, you should try to get Killian back. Whatever that was between us was wrong. It was…
a mistake.”
April flinched as if his words had physically slapped her. Tears welled up in her eyes again. “But you told me you loved me. You said I was better than June.”
Richard’s jaw tightened. “I know! I know what I said, alright?!” he snapped. “But things have changed!”
April’s face fell. “You don’t mean that. You love me.”
‘Of course, I do.” Richard replied.
‘More than June?” April asked.
Richard glanced away, clenching his jaw. “It’s complicated.”
His words pierced through her heart, and she staggered back, shaking her head. “What’s complicated about that? You said that you loved me more than you love her. You told me we were soulmates, and that you wished she was gone, so that we would be together, and now she’s Jone! She left you! She chose Killian!”
She was forced to leave me,” Richard hissed, slamming his glass down. “But I’ll get her back. Killian Romano won’t keep her for long.”
April’s lips shook, and she clenched her fists. “You’re insane,” she whispered, “She doesn’t want ‘ou. She chose him.”
Richard snarled. “She was manipulated. If it weren’t for Killian-”
April released a bitter laugh, cutting him off. “You really think that she would have stayed with you after what you did? After everything we did?”
Richard’s eyes darkened at her words.
April scoffed, wiping her face with the back of her hand. “You think she didn’t know? You think I
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didn’t let her know?” She laughed bitterly. “I sent her pictures, Richard. Pictures of us together. I wanted her to know she had lost. I wanted her to feel worthless.”
Richard went completely still. “What did you just say?” He asked, his voice was dangerously quiet.
April hesitated, realizing her mistake. “Richard, I-”
But it was too late. In a flash, he lunged at her, wrapping his hands around her throat. April gasped, clawing at his hand as he shoved her back against the wall.
“You fucking bitch!” he roared as his grip tightened. “You ruined everything! You-”
April choked, and her nails dug into his wrist. “R–Richard,” she gasped, her face turning red.
“You pushed her away! You gave her a reason to leave me!” His grip didn’t loosen. His eyes blazed with fury.
April’s vision blurred as she struggled to escape. “I… I did it for us,” she managed to choke out. “There is no ‘us‘! There will never be an ‘us‘!” Richard snarled with murder in his eyes. Richard’s phone rang, but he ignored it. But the phone kept ringing, vibrating in his pocket.
He growled, and shoved April away from him. She collapsed to the floor, coughing violently, holding her throat as she gasped for air.
Richard yanked the phone from his pocket and checked the caller ID–Lucas.
He answered the phone with a scowl on his face. “What?” He snapped.
“Turn on the news.” Lucas said frantically.
Richard’s stomach sank. It must be another bad news.
His heart pounded as he grabbed the remote, unmuting the TV.
“Richard Thorne Exposed!”
“Richard Thorne Wanted For The Murder Of His Own Son–Shocking Evidence Revealed!”
There were pictures, and medical records, and reports on how he had planned Ethan’s death for a liver transplant–to save April.
How had they gotten all this evidence? No one knew where he kept them, not even April. Unless… June must have found them.
Richard’s breath caught in his throat.
His phone buzzed again. It was his father. Silas Thorne.
Richard gulped. He already knew–this call wouldn’t be anything good.
His fingers shook as he picked the call. It looks like that trip to Italy would have to wait.
