“If I can’t learn to love him… I won’t love anyone else,” she said seriously. “You know how I am. It takes a special type of person to be willing be with me. And an even more special person for me to want to be with them, with all of my heart. Gabriel… He’s the closet I’ve come.”
“Because he comes with a crown and country,” I muttered, bitterly.
“Exactly.” She nodded. “He comes with power and influence. I’ve sucked up all the power there is for me to take in Chicago. I’ve grown as much as I can here. So, it’s either I get relegated to the background behind you and Ethan, or I became center focus in another painting. Wyatt, this is how we survive. Deep down, we are nothing but rational animals. And I know that if I stay, I’ll butt heads with Ethan because I need to rule in my own sphere. This marriage is how we will all survive as a family.”
I hated how rational she was being.
I couldn’t work with her when she was rational. I couldn’t fight.
“You aren’t the type of person who’d want to be stuck in some damn palace, hosting charity balls and…whatever other monotonous thing princesses do. He’s going to parade you around like some damn trophy and you’ll go insane from boredom. Or insane from all the stuffy rules they try to make you follow.”
She looked away from me and back at her fan. “Your lack of faith in me hurts, little brother.”
“Good. Stay,” I said selfishly.
She snickered and then took a deep breath. “Since Ethan got married, I kept feeling this tightness in my chest and didn’t realize what it was. Ivy kept taking my place within the family. And I kept feeling so…erased. I woke up one morning thinking, ‘So this is what dying feels like… How painful.’”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. She wasn’t giving me any space here. Any room to change her mind. She just kept digging my grave.
“I kept wondering if this is how mom felt,” she whispered.
“What?”
“Mom wasn’t from Chicago. She didn’t know Dad. She uprooted herself and everything she was comfortable with and married for more power…just like this. Just like me. I never thought about it. But now that it’s me…I keep wondering if she felt this way. Sure, of what she needed to do, but a small part of her still uncertain, sad, and afraid. She must have, right? So that means, when they chose Gabriel, she must have been certain… That this moment of sadness, fear and uncertainty would be worth it in end. All I need to be is strong enough to take the same step. I trust Mom, Wyatt. I trust her, so I’m going to take this step…even if you hate me for it. But please don’t hate me.”
I’d lost.
Rolling back over I blinked the tears away from my eyes. But they came kept coming. Goddamn it!
“Thank you,” she whispered, rolling over and hugging me.
Looking away, I found the strength to say, “You better not let them change you or talk down to you. You’re just as— you’re better than them. The moment you say the word, we can tear the whole damn country apart. You’re a motherfucking Callahan. There was a crown on your head before them. The one they’ll give you will be visible to the naked eye and they can take that back, but you’ll never lose the one you were born with.”
She snickered and hugged me tighter. “First of all, in what twisted world would I ever let anyone, royalty or not, change me? Secondly little brother, I’m going to be happy, I promise. So, promise me you will, too…and you’ll look after Ethan.”
“I’m the younger one. He should look after me,” I muttered, and she punched my side. “Ah! Dona!”
“He does look after you!”
“Whose side are you on? Weren’t you just a week ago thinking of killing him!” I pushed her away, trying to get up, but she grabbed a pillow and smacked me on the side of my head.
“I have no idea what you are talking about? I’ve always been a kind hearted, good natured, team player. How could you ever excuse me of—”
Taking one of the other pillows I smacked back.
She stared at be wide eyed, shocked…appalled even and I grinned saying; “A kind hearted, good natured, person wouldn’t hit me back.”
Her green eyes narrowed back on me as she said; “I also said team player and right now you aren’t on my team!”
She hit me so hard the pillow broke open, and of course Dona’s pillows would be made of goose feathers, and of course they would fly everywhere. She sat up on to her knees to look at me for quick second before pointing and laughing like a damn six-year-old. Taking another pillow, I smacked her on the side of her face so hard, the pillow burst open and her hair whipped around. Smiling, I pointed back at her, “Should I laugh maniacally or just grin sheepishly?”
“Off with your head!” she screamed, grabbing a pillow and rushing after me.
ETHAN
This wasn’t supposed to be my position.
My father was supposed to have the honor of some great terrifying speech for whoever came to marry Dona. I didn’t even have time to get my uncles to do it. So unfortunately, it fell on my shoulders. We stood in living room, right by the unlit fireplace, under the family portrait.