Chapter 164

By the time I got out the Foster’s front door, Amy was almost to her dad’s truck.

“Amy, wait,” I yelled as I ran toward her. “Please, I need to talk to you.”

Amy struggled to unlock the truck door, but her hands shook so badly that she dropped the keys. “I don’t want to talk to you, Daisy.” She bent over and picked up the truck keys from the asphalt. “Leave me alone.”

Making it to her side, I realized I was shaking just as much as Amy. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think they would do that to you.”

“Is it your first day dealing with Alphas?” Amy asked, her eyes wide and glistening with tears. “You knew some of them would bully me if they had the chance, and you gave them that chance.”

Amy’s lips quivered as she spoke. “I didn’t want to come to this stupid party. But I came for you,” she sobbed. “They called me horrible names that I … I can’t repeat.”

Her sobs tore at my soul. I moved to put my arms around her, but she backed away.

“I saw you watching.” She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. “You were watching those girls bully me and call me vile names. But you didn’t do anything about it.”

“I was discussing a business deal with their father,” I explained. “The deal was important to the company. And … and I couldn’t concentrate when I saw you were being bullied. So I excused myself to help you.”

“Your defense is that you were too busy discussing business with their father to help me!” she cried. “What happened to you, Daisy? You used to love me like a sister. Now all you care about is that stupid company.”

I was stunned. The company meant a lot to me, but Amy means more.

Then why did I leave her alone with the Alphas? Why didn’t I help her as soon as I suspected she was being bullied?

She was right. She didn't want to come to the party. She only did it for me, and look what I let happen to her.

How was I going to fix this?

“I was coming over to help you when you ran away,” I said. “I was going to stop them.”

“After you watched those girls humiliate me,” Amy cried. “You aren’t my best friend anymore. You are just another greedy Alpha worried about making money!”

“How can you say that?” I asked. “We’ve been friends since we were young.”

“You aren’t the Daisy I know anymore.” Amy shook her head wildly. “And I’ll never trust you again.”

“No, Amy,” I begged. “Please don’t say that. “You are my best friend.”

“Not anymore.” Amy’s voice was raw with pain. “I don’t want anything to do with the new Daisy. Please leave me alone. I mean it.”

She opened the truck door and climbed inside. “Just stay away from me,” she said and slammed the truck door.

I watched in disbelief as the truck pulled away without another glance from Amy in my direction.

After I watched the truck’s lights fade into the distance, I made my way on rubbery legs to a bench on the far side of the front porch to collect myself.

I couldn’t go back inside to the party. I wanted to cry, but tears wouldn’t come as numbness crept over me.

Amy was right. I should have gone to her when I first suspected she was being bullied. But it seemed rude to walk away from Richard Myers when he was speaking to me.

However, Amy should have been my first priority. I promised her she would be okay at the party and would have a good time with me. It was thoughtless and stupid of me to leave her alone.

I should have known there would be Alphas at the party who were prejudiced against Betas. I also know many Alphas don’t want Betas around for anything other than servants.

Amy saying she didn’t like the new Daisy echoed through my mind. It made me recall my conversation with Victor when I asked him if I was going the right way.

Victor reminded me that as Alex’s heir, I am responsible for putting the company first over my own desires. He said it was the only way for me.

But was this the track I was meant to take? I didn’t want this to happen to Amy. I would give anything to go back to the beginning of the evening and do everything differently.

“I lost my best friend,” I said the words aloud, and tears came to my eyes. “I lost my best friend,” I repeated as the tears spilled from my eyes and ran down my face.

I deserved to lose her after letting those spoiled Alpha girls bully her.

Someone came out of the Foster’s front door, and I leaned back, deeper into the shadows.

It was Victor. William was right behind him.

“Do you see them?” William asked.

“No,” Victor replied. “And Amy’s truck is gone.”

“They must have left together,” William said as he walked out of the doorway and onto the porch.

“What did the Myers girls say to Amy to upset her,” Victor asked.

William shook his head sadly. “Nothing I want to repeat. I couldn’t believe how vicious they were toward a girl they didn’t know.”

William’s words forced a sob from my throat, and both Alpha males turned my way.

“Daisy,” they called.

Through my tears, I saw them approach me.

“Daisy, honey, are you okay?” Victor knelt in front of me.

“Where’s Amy?” William asked.

“Gone,” I sobbed. “She …she said she doesn’t want to be friends with me anymore.”

The males exchanged glances.

“She didn’t mean it,” William assured me.

I shook my head. “She meant it, and I don’t blame her. I deserve to lose her friendship. I saw the Myers girls bullying her, and I didn’t instantly help her. I was too worried about a stupid business deal!”

“Daisy, it wasn’t your fault,” William said. “I should have helped her too. But I was shocked by how far the Myers girls went to bully her in front of everyone at the party.”

Victor took my hand. “The Fosters told Richard and his wife that the girls must leave their home. They aren’t welcome here anymore.”

“Victor and I, along with Megan and her friends, told them what happened,” William added. “Richard is angry with them for upsetting you.”

“He should be more worried about Amy,” I said.

“I agree,” Victor said. “Would you like us to help you find her, so you can talk to her and ensure she is okay?”

I shook my head again. “I already spoke to her. She made it clear she wanted nothing to do with me anymore. I just want to go home.”

“I’ll drive by Gray’s restaurant and see if her father’s truck is parked nearby,” William said. “That way, we will know she got home safely. I’ll call you when I know.”

He left the porch and hurried to his Mustang.

“Thank you, William,” I said and stood. “Please take me home now, Victor.”

Victor put an arm around my shoulders, led me to his car, and helped me into the passenger seat.

“I shouldn’t have begged Amy to come along tonight,” I said as Victor pulled from the driveway.

“You didn’t know what would happen,” he replied.

“I knew there was a good chance of Amy being hurt by the Alphas at the party,” I insisted. “Many are like the Myers sisters.”

“Maybe I’m to blame,” Victor said. “You tried to combine work and your personal life like I advised you.”

“You said to find balance, not to throw my best friend to mean wolves and walk away,” I reminded him. “I wish I could take it back.”

“What would you have done differently?” Victor asked. “You did what you had to do. The fault belongs to the bullies.”

I rode the rest of the way in silence. I didn’t want to talk about it. Nobody could convince me that it wasn’t my fault.

I took out my phone and waited for William to call, and sent a prayer to the Goddess to let Amy make it home safely.