The Billionaire Who Saved Me - Chapter 75: Chapter 75

I saw a shadow flash in Richard's eyes, but it disappeared right away.
Joey said, "I went out with friends today and ran into Elena. She was so shameless and said she was Richie's girlfriend. I told her Richie's girlfriend was coming to our place today..."
Helen cut her off suddenly, "Enough. Stop making things up. I know you're tight with Katherine, but you can't take the blame for her. Can't you see where we are?" She tried to pull Joey away as she spoke.
I was shocked. How could Helen still be trying to pin this on me even now? With that kind of sense, how did she ever pull off that car accident without anyone finding out back then?
I hung my head, sniffling like I was upset, but inside my mind was racing. A big mystery was right in front of me, but I couldn't find a way to solve it.
I didn't need to explain. The further Helen went, the better it was for me.
"You say 'where we are'? This is Knight Manor, not a place for your tricks. Tomorrow you're going to stay with your parents for a while to rest. If you don't, then you'll get divorced.
"Now, I'm tired. Everyone out." Delilah rubbed her forehead, eyes closed, telling us to leave.
Helen tried to say more, but Richard pulled her arm. She left, clearly unwilling. Mason and I were last, but at the door we heard Delilah say, "Mase, Kate, stay. I need to talk to you two."
I shut the door again and stood in front of Delilah.
"Sit down. No need to stand." Delilah's voice sounded suddenly much older like more wrinkles had appeared on her face.
We sat on the couch. Mason, who hadn't said a word, spoke up. "Grandma, what do you want us to do?"
"Kate, you got wronged today. I'll make it up to you later," Delilah said.
"Delilah, I don't want compensation. As long as you trust and understand me, even the worst wrongs I suffer will be worth it," I said.
I laid it on thick. It was just nice words. How hard could that be? But soon enough, I'd shoot myself in the foot.
Delilah nodded at me approvingly. "If only everyone were as sensible as you. But what a shame... Never mind. Kate, the marriage alliance between our family and the Duke family has to work. Can you do something for me?"
It definitely wasn't going to be good, but I had no choice but to agree.
"Delilah, just tell me. I'll do it if I can," I said.
"Sweetheart, go find that woman tomorrow. Tell her to stay away from Richie and never come to him," Delilah said.
I stared at her, shocked. "But didn't you already tell Richie to send her overseas?"
"Hmph. I don't trust him. He might say yes and then stash her away somewhere. If Moira finds out, the marriage alliance between our two families won't work. We'll be enemies," Delilah said.
Delilah pleaded, "Please, honey. Do this for me?"
What else could I say?
"Fine. I'll talk to Elena tomorrow," I replied.
Back in my room from Delilah's study, I face-planted onto the couch. I begged silently, "God, turn me into an ostrich. Let everyone just ignore me."
What a screwed-up day. Everything I'd planned had gone south, and I'd been set up.
First, I got slapped for no reason, and then it was swept under the rug.
One moment, Delilah said, "Poor Kate got wronged." The next moment, she called me "good girl." And now I had to clean up their mess.
"Feeling really bummed out?" The couch sank as Mason plopped down next to me.
"Not at all. I'd lay down my life for the Knight family, no questions asked," I mumbled into the cushions.
"Nice. You're getting good at saying one thing and meaning the opposite."
I burst into tears, rolled over, and clung to Mason, sobbing my heart out. Finally, I could let it all out. His shirt was soaked with my tears.
I sobbed, "Delilah's being a total bully. This isn't fair. Why the hell do I gotta clean up Richard's damn mess with his whore?
"He used Elena to set me up, and now I have to fix it? Where's the fairness in that? What did I ever do to deserve this?"
I cried and ranted, and he didn't say a word. He just held me quietly, listening to all my rambling.
Once I'd said my piece and cried myself out, I pulled away from Mason's arms. That was when I noticed his crisp shirt—all crumpled up from me, practically a rag now.
"All cried out?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"Got everything off your chest?"
I nodded.
"Good. Now that you've had your say, listen to me." His big hand gently touched my face, wiping away the remaining dampness from my cheeks.
Then he spoke up. "I told you before, weak people don't get to ask for fairness. The world's tough, and our family's even tougher. You thought Grandma would just take your side no matter what just because she likes you? Wrong. Family's always first with her, no question.
"When you're strong enough, you won't go looking for someone to reason with because by then, you'll be the one making the rules.
"So for now, dry your tears, and swallow all the gripes. Do a good job with what Grandma wants, and she'll see you're worth something. She'll pay more attention to you and treat you better."
I swear, I wanted to bite him.
But Mason was already standing up. He pulled off the crumpled shirt and headed for the bathroom, tossing one last line over his shoulder. "Watch your language. Don't be rude."
Early the next morning, I left before anyone else. I announced loudly and clearly to everyone, "I'm going to find Elena. Tell her to stop bugging Richard."
With that, I walked right out in front of everyone.
Last night, I had a sudden realization. Being low-key, profound, or sophisticated didn't work with these people.
I'd been misled by that training from the start. I thought rich families were like a deep, murky pool, where everyone spoke in hints and never said what they really meant.
But last night it finally clicked. Joey's way—carefree, rushing in without a second thought—was actually the best way to get by in the Knight family.
Elena showed up because Joey told her about Moira's visit. But Joey got off scot-free. No one even asked her about it.
Me? I'd been cleared of all suspicion, and I still got thrown into the fire. I vented a little about being wronged, and Mason lectured me for it.
In the end, I decided to take his advice and make my own place in the Knight family in my own way.
As I left, I saw everyone's shocked stares in the glass reflection. For some reason, it felt great.
I'd called Elena in the middle of the night to set a time and place to meet.
On the phone, her voice was thick with sobs. She sounded pretty drunk too. She rambled, wanting to pour her heart out, but I cut her off and said we needed to meet today.
She agreed, anyway. I didn't care if she'd had too much to drink and would forget it. I'd recorded the call. If Elena didn't show, it was her fault. Nothing to do with me.