"Given my decision, I'll be the first to explain what's going to happen next." He places his hands on the table, his eyes drilling into mine. "As of today, you are no longer a Firstborn."
My heart sinks at the words. He might as well give me a death sentence. I'm done in Eden Falls now. I don't argue right away, too stumped for words as I listen to him go on.
"As of right now, all Firstborn rights and privileges are going to your brother," he says, giving Brazen a firm smile. "I trust you'll make me proud, son."
I follow his gaze to Brazen, his eyes shifting away from mine, as if he can't quite bear to look at me. Of course he fucking can't. He knows as well as I do - as well as Father does - what this means for me.
"So that's it," I manage. "It's over, just like that."
"No," Father hisses. "It's not over, you spoiled brat. You still have a duty, a role to fulfill in this family."
"Is that so?" My words are dripping with sarcasm and I toss my napkin on the table. "And by that you mean I have to marry whoever you think will give you the most advantage in this town."
"Listen, you ungrateful little whore," Father says, his voice shockingly calm and a sharp contrast to the words leaving his lips. "You're a pawn. The sooner you realize that, the better. Be lucky I haven't sent you back to St. Cecile to spend the rest of your sorry life there."
"You don't own me."
"That's where you're wrong," he tells me with gusto. "And don't you fucking forget it, daughter."
I look at Tianna and Bryony for back up, but neither of them wants to meet my eyes. "Fine," I snicker. "Let it be that way, then. You can have your picture perfect family. But don't think I won't spend a lifetime fighting this. Fighting you."
"I'd like to see you try." I hate how confident he is. How easily he dismisses me, as if I'm nothing but a silly little girl who needs to be disciplined and sent on the right path. "Now, Brazen, as I've already explained, you'll have some new duties given the status you've just gotten. I expect you to treat me with respect, as opposed to your bratty sister here."
"I'm not-"
"Shut up," Tianna mutters, bumping my leg under the table and giving me a meaningful look. "Seriously. You're only digging yourself a deeper hole."
I sulk instead, glaring at Father as he explains his new role to my brother. But I can't hold my comments back for long, and soon enough, I open my mouth again.
"Who's Brazen going to marry, then?" Brazen's eyes warn me to shut up, but I refuse to heed the warning. "Can he marry anyone he wants?"
"He'll marry Coco Rose," Father says calmly, making me burst out. "What, you stupid girl? What is it now?"
"Coco Rose?" I repeat. "But he doesn't... he barely knows her! And you know he's in love with-"
"Pandora." Brazen's voice is dripping with venom. "I think you should shut the fuck up now."
"And I think you should-"
"Enough!" Father's hand slams on the table, rendering us all speechless. "You need to start listening to the people who outrank you, Pandora. And you need to start being such a smart-mouthed brat, because it's not going to work out for you."
I've heard enough of Father's threats to know he's serious, so I take his advice and keep my mouth shut. Despite everything I can't help but feel a little sorry for Brazen. He's in the same conundrum as I was now, forced to marry someone he barely knows and certainly doesn't have any feelings for.
I stay quiet for the rest of our meal, and the moment Father gets up to leave, I push my chair back too, eager to get the hell away from them.
"Pandora," he calls out after me, and I look at him over my shoulder. "I'm not done with you. I do think you should get a punishment, though I'm sure having your Firstborn privileges taken away will be enough to send you on the right track."
The bastard knows what they're going to do to me in school. As if it's not enough I have to look at the boys who fucked me starting tomorrow and probably for the rest of my life. I'm going to have to endure the torture of everybody else, all those students who'll be just delighted at the chance of torturing the new girl who never belonged there in the first place.
"Do you ever think your actions will catch up with you?" I ask Father. "Because I think they will. And I can't fucking wait to watch you pay for everything you've done to us."
With those words, I leave him standing there, walking away from the mess that is my life, and right into another situation waiting for me in my bedroom.
I close my bedroom door behind me, turning around and getting the shock of my life when I see Easton Brantley sitting on my bed.
"You fucking prick," I hiss. "What the hell are you doing here?"
I'm on him in seconds, fists hammering his broad chest and the tears I've held back all night finally fighting their way out of my eyes. He lets me hit him, not even making a move to push me away. The bastard just takes it, which only enrages me more.