Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 53516 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53516 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
"Maybe, but is what I did really so wrong when it's nothing to you?"
"You don't know a damn thing about me!" The words came out in a roar, but I quickly got myself under control. "It's my money, and I worked hard for it." I gave up a lot more to achieve it. "I'll make sure my daughter benefits from it, and that should be all you care about." I shot out of my seat and went to the door. "Thanks for stopping by, Judy."
"This isn't over," she threatened.
"It is, you just don't know it yet. Don't waste Max's money trying to fight me because I promise you will lose." Because I didn't lose. Not ever.
Not anymore.
I was fuming as the sound of Judy's rental faded into the distance. I went outside, prepared to take an ill-advised run, but I stopped at the mailbox and pulled out several days' worth of mail. There was just one envelope that caught my eye. It was large and a pale green color, but the thing that grabbed me most was that it only had my first name handwritten across it.
I swallowed hard as I went back inside and opened the envelope.
Completely unprepared for what I saw.
Twice in one day.
Un-fucking-believable.
Chapter 30
Rosalee
Violet and I spent a little more time in town than I'd planned, but I couldn't help myself when we stopped at a local toy store and found an adorable princess tiara with long, colorful, sheer fabric that hung down her little back. It was purple, pink, and blue, and she hadn't stopped swinging her head since I put it on her. "You are the prettiest little princess in the whole wide world," I cooed to her as we walked toward the front door. "Just wait until your daddy sees you."
Violet babbled happily. She might not understand a lot, but she was a happy little girl with a sparkly tiara on her head and a dump truck clutched in her arms.
I unlocked the front door and we spilled inside, still laughing and feeling good from our day in town. My gaze landed on Xavier, and I felt my smile brighten despite my determination to keep a healthy distance between us. "Hey," I said, setting Violet on her feet and smiling as she toddled over to her father. "The good news is that Violet is a very healthy little girl. She scored in the top percentile for all of her year-one milestones."
He didn't smile back, and that was my first clue that something was wrong. His lips were pulled into a tight line, his gray eyes dark and unreadable.
"Is there something on your mind, Xavier?" I wouldn't tiptoe around whatever problem he had with me. Not this time. Not ever again.
"You could say that." His words were cold and distant, like we were strangers rather than people who knew each other intimately.
"Well," I bit out, folding my arms over my chest. "Are you going to tell me what it is, or should I guess?" I used to play this game with Jason all the time, and there was no way to win it.
Xavier sighed heavily and produced a pale green envelope that he tossed on the coffee table. It landed with a soft thud that seemed to reverberate through the room. His steely gaze tracked my movements as if he thought I might take off back down the mountain.
"Right." My voice was tight with anger, but I pushed it down and picked up Violet, carrying her to her room so she wouldn't be subjected to whatever was said next. I got her set up in her playpen with a few toys, but she was enamored with her new truck, running her palms over the rugged wheels and smiling at the sounds it made. I kissed the top of her black curls and sighed heavily.
I had a pretty good idea what was in that green envelope, and my heart was as heavy as my legs when I made my way back to the living room. The weight of Xavier's angry glare added a few more pounds to my already overburdened shoulders, and I refused to sit, instead standing with the coffee table as a barrier between us.
He nodded toward the envelope. "Go on. Open it." His tone was angry yet smug, as if he'd caught me doing something nefarious.
This is how he wants to do this, I reminded myself as I picked up the envelope and turned it upside down, letting the photos scatter across the table and onto the floor. Photos of me and my ex-boyfriend from the last year of our relationship. Looking at the woman I was back then was like a punch to the gut. I smiled when I was supposed to, but it was never a real smile; it didn't quite reach my eyes. I wore the right clothes: silky blouses and skirts, stiletto heels, with my hair in the latest styles. Jason was beside me, looking smug and satisfied with the world he'd crafted with his obedient and insecure woman.