Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
“Kade.” She whimpers, “Please, you have to understand…”
Something inside me fractures. “No, you don’t get to play the victim. Not when you had twenty-six years to tell me the truth and didn’t even try.” Words pour out of me like a faucet that won’t turn off. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Why would you want to sacrifice your reputation? After all, what would the world think of you if they knew you gave birth to Roman Bishop’s bastard?”
“Don’t say such things. It was never like that!” Tears slip down her cheeks, but they don’t elicit the response I think they should from me.
I don’t see a remorseful woman. I see a selfish one who didn’t try hard enough to protect an innocent child. She could’ve made the fucking effort. Made it so I didn’t have to live under his thumb all my life. So I didn’t have to hear what a failure I was every single day.
“Maybe it wasn’t, but it sure as hell seemed that way. It doesn’t matter, though, because we can’t undo what’s already been done.” I grit my teeth against the sudden nauseating rush of anger filling my veins. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t have bothered.
Her mouth works like she wants to say something but doesn’t have the guts to come out with it. Typical. True to form, at least. I toss back the rest of the whiskey in my glass and let it burn down my throat. When I plunk the glass on the desk, I wave at her.
“Thanks for the drink and the pathetic excuses.”
She flinches like I hit her, then places her glass on the table and covers her face with her hands. Her body trembles as she starts to weep, and her tears only seem to amplify my anger. Am I supposed to feel sorry?
“I’ve always loved you,” she blubbers through the tears. “Every day of your life, Kade, I have loved you. Regardless of what you believe, it’s true. Your father made sure I saw you. He made sure I saw what I could never have, at least while he was breathing. I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve been waiting for the day that he died so I could tell you the truth and have the opportunity to be in your life.”
All I hear are excuses. All I feel is pain.
“He’s dead now, so I guess you got what you wanted, but it doesn’t matter because the damage has already been done. And the truth is, I don’t want you, Emma. I don’t need a mother. So while I’m sure it makes you feel better that you don’t have to carry around such a secret anymore, you can stop pretending and put your efforts into that fancy wedding you’re planning for the kid you actually wanted.”
Right before my eyes, she transforms into a mama bear defending her cubs, tears still tracking down her cheeks as her lips pull back from her teeth in a snarl. “I wanted you, just as much as I wanted Allie. Pregnancy and your birth were very difficult on my body. The doctors advised me against having another pregnancy, and I wanted a family. What is so wrong with that?”
“You haven’t told her, have you?” I wait a moment, giving her the chance to prove me wrong. All she does is look away, refusing to meet my eyes now.
I shake my head. “I guess you’re still carrying around more secrets, then.”
She lifts her trembling chin. “Leave Allie out of this. I’m talking about us. Everything I did was for you, whether you want to believe me or not.”
“Well, thanks.” I shove out of my chair, stand, and sneer down at her. “Thanks for giving me the gift of life. It’s been a real fucking joy thus far.”
“Kade, wait! Please!” All her begging does is threaten to send my lunch back up.
I can’t sit here and listen to any more of her excuses. She knew the type of monster he was, knew that he would break me, and she still let him have me.
I need to get out of here.
My boots clap on the hardwood floor as I march to the front door. I’m nearly at the door when a voice calls out from the stairs.
“Kade? What the hell?”
Allie.
No. I can’t fucking look at her right now.
I ignore her the same way I ignored Emma, and continue without breaking my stride.
“Kade! I’m talking to you!”
Allie is far more stubborn than Emma, though, and she follows me outside, her voice rising as she closes the distance between us. “What are you doing here? Why were you in my mother’s office?”
Of course she has questions. But I don’t have to answer them. “It’s none of your business.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to work for me. You can’t randomly show up at my house and tell me it’s none of my business.”