Chapter 7 - The Confrontation in Paradise
An hour later, Arthur’s beaten-down sedan pulled up to the security gates of my estate in Paradise Valley.
Gwendolyn and Chloe sat in the car, their eyes wide as they stared through the wrought-iron bars at the winding driveway leading up to the stunning modern glass mansion perched on the hillside.
"This must be the wrong address," Gwendolyn muttered, her voice trembling. "This is a twenty-million-dollar property in Paradise Valley. Paige can't possibly be here. She’s probably staying in a guest house behind someone’s mansion."
Arthur pressed the call button on the gate intercom with a trembling hand.
BZZZ.
The heavy iron gates swung open automatically without a word spoken.
Arthur drove the car up the driveway, stopping in the circular motor court beneath the shade of massive desert palms.
They stepped out of the car, looking up at the towering glass walls, the cascading water features, and the pristine limestone architecture.
The front glass pivot door swung open.
I walked out onto the terrace, wearing a simple cream silk dress, holding a glass of iced tea. Uncle Marcus stepped out behind me, looking imposing in his dark suit.
Arthur took three fast steps forward, his hands outstretched. "Paige! Oh, thank God, Paige!"
Gwendolyn and Chloe followed closely behind, their eyes wildly scanning the luxurious surrounding property.
"Paige, what is this place?!" Gwendolyn demanded, unable to drop her bossy, demanding tone even in her desperation. "Whose house is this? Are you staying with some wealthy boyfriend? You need to tell your uncle to drop the eviction lawsuit right now! We are living out of a rental van!"
I took a slow sip of my tea, looking down at Gwendolyn with complete detachment.
"This is my house, Gwendolyn," I said quietly.
Gwendolyn laughed—a harsh, nervous sound. "Don't be ridiculous! You don't have this kind of money! Your father barely makes enough to cover our mortgage!"
"My father doesn't pay for my life," I replied, my voice slicing through the afternoon air. "I am the founder and principal owner of Aura Real Estate Holdings. I built this estate three years ago."
Arthur gasped, his eyes widening in complete shock. "Aura Holdings? The firm that bought the North Scottsdale commercial plaza? You own that?"
"I own twelve commercial properties across the valley, Dad," I said, looking straight into his bloodshot eyes. "I’ve owned them for years. While you were letting Gwendolyn tell you that I was a worthless burden who needed to be disciplined, I was running a multi-million-dollar corporation."
Chloe stepped forward, her face twisted in pure envy and resentment. "If you’re so rich, why did you live in our house?! Why did you act like you had nothing?!"
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"Because that house was my mother’s home!" I shouted back, my voice echoing off the concrete walls. "It was the only place where I had memories of a woman who actually loved me! I stayed there out of respect for her memory and out of hope that my father might one day wake up and remember he had a daughter!"
Arthur fell to his knees on the stone driveway, tears streaming down his weathered cheeks. "Paige... baby, please... I’m so sorry. I didn't know... I swear I didn't know!"
