Chapter 1 - THE APOLOGY
Blake Cole grabbed a huge handful of pink-and-white castle cake and shoved it into June’s mouth.
June jerked backward.
“STOP!”
Frosting smeared across her cheeks.
Blake laughed.
Then he grabbed another handful.
Before he could reach her again, Ethan crossed the living room and yanked him away.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
Blake wiped frosting onto his dark shirt.
“It was just a joke.”
June stood behind Ethan crying.
Her pink birthday dress was streaked with icing.
Ethan pointed at her.
“Look at her.”
Margaret rushed forward and pulled Blake behind her.
“Don’t yell at him!”
Ethan turned.
“He humiliated my daughter.”
Richard slammed one palm onto the birthday table.
The plates jumped.
“Apologize to Blake.”
Ethan stared at his father.
“Are you serious?”
Richard pointed toward the front door.
“Apologize.”
Then, colder:
“Or don’t expect to walk out of here with anything.”
The room went silent.
June’s sobs softened.
Ethan looked at his father.
“Anything?”
Richard’s mouth tightened.
“You know what I mean.”
Ethan did.
Richard had been saying for years that one day the Cole family estate would be divided between his sons’ children.
But Ethan’s older brother Aaron was dead.
Aaron’s son Blake was the oldest grandson.
June was Ethan’s only child.
Richard often called the inheritance:
“the family future.”
Now he was using it as a leash.
Ethan lifted June into his arms.
“Then keep it.”
Margaret gasped.
Richard’s face changed.
Blake stopped smirking.
Ethan walked toward the door.
Then Richard said:
“You think this is about money?”
Ethan stopped.
Richard’s voice dropped.
“This is about what your brother died for.”
Ethan slowly turned.
Aaron had died twelve years earlier in a mountain-road accident.
No one in the family talked about it.
Not really.
Richard looked at June.
May you like
Then at Blake.
“If you walk out now, Ethan, you’ll finally learn why Blake comes first.”
