Chapter 5
Leon’s appearance echoed his father’s.
He gave me a contemptuous once–over, “God, you’re a mess.”
Then he turned to Hudson, hand extended expectantly,
“Dad, about those birthday presents you promised when Mom and I got back?”
“Eighteen in two days. Last year I got ninety–nine presents. Let’s make it an even hundred this time.”
Hudson ignored Leon’s insult toward me, ruffling his hair with indulgent affection.
“Of course,”
He pulled out the protection pendant, carefully placing it around Leon’s neck with a tenderness he’d
never shown Noah,
As if that wasn’t enough, Hudson snapped his fingers.
A fleet of sports cars in garish colors rolled up outside the funeral home.
“All yours, son. Know how much you love making a statement.”
Valería wrinkled her nose playfully, wrapping herself around Hudson’s arm.
“Hey, what about mama? Don’t tell me the boy’s your favorite now, hmm?”
Hudson tweaked her nose with a grin. “As if I could forget you.”
On cue, a parade of people emerged from the cars, carrying dozens of jewelry sets. Each piece was museum–worthy, including one that had belonged to European royalty.
Valeria kissed his cheek, playing the eternal ingenue.
“Oh my god, aren’t these from that royal auction in Europe? Each set worth millions!”
“You bought the whole collection? Baby, you’re too much… though I hope poor Reese isn’t upset?”
My son’s funeral had become their obscene show of wealth.
There I stood in my basic black suit, bare–faced and puffy–eyed, looking like a servant next to Valeria’s polished perfection.
14:31 O
A Perfect Lie Hides Behind My Billionaire Maria
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Chapter S
Everything Hudson had ever given Noah wouldn’t equal the cost of one of Leon’s new cars.
Hudson finally remembered my presence.
“Reese, don’t misunderstand, Valeria and Leon are just used to European customs. And Mom’s adopted Leon as her grandson, so him calling me Dad is natural.”
“It’s just his birthday coming up, and that pendant-”
Before he could finish, Valeria stumbled dramatically into his arms. “Hudson… I feel faint. The heat…”
Hudson dropped my arm like it burned, scooping her up. “This is exactly why I bought you the summer villa.”
“Ugh, why’d you drag yourself to this depressing thing? You should be at your place of it, not this waste of time.Come on, I’ve got you.”
Without even a glance at his dead son’s ashes, he carried Valeria away.
I lifted Noah’s urn alone, ignoring the whispers and stares.
It’s okay, baby. If Daddy doesn’t love you, Mommy always will.
Before I could place the urn in its niche, Leon deliberately slammed into me. The urn shattered, scattering Noah’s ashes across the ground.
“Watch it, would you? This suit’s one–of–a–kind from Dad. If that dead kid’s ashes mess it up, you can’t touch the cleaning bill.”
“God, this is gross.”
He pulled out a water bottle filled with cigarette butts, smirking. “Here, use this for the little accident.
See? I can be nice.”
14:31
