Chapter 27

Ella

I was shocked when he’d told me that Nola had the house in her name and I wondered what other things I’d been entitled to that had somehow slipped over into Nola’s control while I grieved for my mother. Had she taken advantage of me or had she simply bought the house from the bank? Maybe she was too embarrassed to tell me or thought it would make things awkward. It was too much to think that Nola had somehow cheated me and I brushed away the thought knowing it didn’t matter and it didn’t seem possible.

As Aiden drove me home, it didn’t matter. Nothing did. The intimacy of the night before, his claiming me in such an official way, solidified his commitment to me in a way I never dreamed. It was all I wanted. What was done was done. No amount of money would bring my mother back to me. There was no sense in dredging it all up now.

I showed up at the Blue family mansion and found everyone in the dining room having breakfast, all gathered around the table like any other morning, except for Millie who wasn’t there. I knew some mornings she went out for coffee at the cemetery, and I could only assume that’s where she was.

“Where have you been?” snapped Sadie, giving me and Aiden an evil glare. “We needed you this morning. If you’re going to be out all night, it would be nice for a little head’s up.” I felt each word crawl up my spine and assault me, but no more. I didn’t have to hear it. I owed them nothing.

I ignored her and decided to address Nola instead. “I’m handing in my resignation effective immediately.” Aiden took my hand and gave it a squeeze. “And I’ll be moving out, of course.”

Nola’s chin lifted, and she gave me a tight smile. “Before you leave, I’d like for you to explain something. It seems that you’ve been running your mouth around town and well, I’d like to know just where you get off creating such rumors. As for your resignation, you can forget it. You’re fired.”

Scott Blue’s head raised and he gazed at Nola like she’d lost her mind. The twins went bug-eyed, Halle who cleared her throat and took a sip of water, and Sadie dropped her fork which made a clanking noise that no one else seemed to hear.

“Nola, what’s the meaning of this?” My father sat up straight in his seat, and my heart started to race.

“It seems that Ella here has been running her mouth around town that she’s the long-lost daughter of Scott Blue. As if our hospitality weren’t enough, now she’s trying to damage our reputations.”

Sadie stood up at the table and crossed her arms. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

“As if,” said Halle with a laugh.

“You see what kind of trash you chose over me? She’s not only nobody, but she’s a liar too.” Sadie stepped up to Aiden and crossed her arms.

I glanced back to Scott who just sat there, not saying a word and looking like he was going to be sick.

“I’m only sorry you had to learn about her this way, Aiden.” Nola offered him a warm and caring look. “Thank goodness your mother had the decency to tell me what she’s been saying.”

I turned to look at Aiden whose face had gone pale. He’d told his mother after I’d asked him not to and I could only guess why. He wanted her to like me.

“You know, Ella. These are the kind of rumors that ruin marriages and cause messy divorces. I mean, if this were true then I’d have no choice to sue for divorce seeing that at the time of your conception I was married to my husband.” She sent a pointed glare his way, and he kept his eyes hard on hers.

“Why would you say something like that? How low can you get? I mean, I knew you envied us, but wanting out father for your own? How pathetic.” Halle covered her mouth and giggled. “I’m sorry, mom, but it’s just so laughable.”

“It’s hurtful. Please go upstairs and get your things. Our hospitality ends here.”

Aiden stepped forward, glaring across the table at my father. “Are you her father?” I released a breath unsure that Aiden still believed me. I knew Millie hadn’t lied.

“It’s not possible. I’m sorry if you’re mistaken, Ella. Your mother meant a great deal to us, but I’m afraid that you’re wrong about me.” His words were final. He would never claim me as his own flesh and blood.

“See what happens when you try to do a nice thing for people. I’m only sorry you were fooled too, Aiden. I know your mother told me she’d talk to you about all of this.”

Aiden shook his head, and he was as confused as I was.

I wanted to bring up the house and why Nola had lied about the bank foreclosure, but it seemed she’d already won that battle too. All she had to do was deny any of it, and everyone would believe her over me. Of all the days for Millie to be gone. But I wouldn’t throw her under the bus. I cared too much for her and only hoped that in the end, she’d make it right.

I hurried out of the room and up the stairs determined to leave Aiden behind as he followed. But as we got to the top of the stairs I spun around and pushed against his chest.

“Get out!” The words were so painful to say, but I meant them. At that moment, I meant them with all my heart and every ounce of truth in me.

“Ella? You can’t mean that. I’m on your side.” If only that were true. He hadn’t had any faith in me, or he wouldn’t have had to tell his mom about mine.

“You told your mother! All of this is your fault.”

“I’m sorry. I only said something because she was so hard pressed to believe you were the twin’s maid. I wanted her to know who you were.”

“No, you wanted her to know who my parents were, hoping that she’d like me because she’s too shallow to like a fucking maid who came from regular people. That’s your problem, not mine. And as for the house. I don’t want it! I don’t want anything from you!”

He was growing angry now, but I didn’t care. I was angry too. He pulled his lips in tight and put his hands in his pockets as he watched me go around my room and gather my things.

Finally, he found his words. “That’s a done deal, Ella. The house is yours.”

“I don’t want it. Why can’t you take a hint?” I pushed past him and went to the bathroom to get my makeup and toiletries. I’d have to send a car back for the rest, assuming they let me in. I’d need Millie for that. I only hoped that she wouldn’t deny me too.

Anger and tears came over me as I pictured my father, those damned blue eyes staring straight at Nola and then me and the words which seemed too unreal, too painful as he denied me.

I slumped against the sink and wept. I wept for my mother and for me. It had been nice knowing I had a family, even if it were a secret one. Even though I loathed working for those hateful twins, just knowing that they were my sisters, made it a tiny bit bearable, as if I had a special secret. Now they knew the truth, even if they never believed it, and the truth was suffocating me.

Aiden was gone when I came out of the bathroom, and I pulled my bags up over my shoulder and took out my phone. I called a cab and went to stand outside and wait. On my way out, I passed Nola and Scott who were holding hands in the foyer, and he gave me an apologetic look. Nola kept her eyes distant as she looked over my head as if she were too ashamed to look at me.

“I’ll make sure you get your last day’s pay, but Ella, don’t ever come back here.” Nola’s words were final as she held the door open for me. I gave her a curt nod and walked out without giving my father a second glance.

And just when it felt as if I had everything, I was back to nothing.