Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106806 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106806 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“And whose fault is that?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know, Savvy. Mine? Yours? Or maybe we should blame our parents, since they’re the ones who fucked us up.”
“My fault? Seriously? How do you figure, Oliver?”
His eyes go hard. “You left. You fucking ran.”
“You made me a thief.”
He laughs. “Made you? Is that how you remember this?”
“You didn’t tell me he was your father. You didn’t tell me I was stealing from your family.”
“No. What I told you was that I’d changed my mind. I told you not to do it because I didn’t want you involved anymore. But you did it anyway. On your own. So don’t give me that I made you bullshit.”
“What was in there? What was it that you needed so badly that you were willing to get me to steal it from your family? Surely not money. You’ve always had more of that than you needed.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Do you still have it? Have you considered giving it back to Alec’s mom? The man’s wife?”
His nostrils flare. “I would sooner die than let that bitch lay a finger on those things.”
“Charles was your father! You lied to my face when I asked you.”
“I never lied. You asked if he was my dad. Charles was never a dad to me. He was my sperm donor and my warden, and he used what he had of mine to control me.”
Tears spill down my cheeks. He lied. I trusted him, and he lied. “And you never told me any of that. Never let me in.”
“I’ve thought about you every day since you walked out my door. When you showed up on his doorstep, I wanted to believe whatever was happening between you two had something to do with me. Naïve of me, I realize, since you came all this way to make sure I wouldn’t be ruining it for you.”
I lose the beat at that admission, my steps stuttering at the unexpectedness of it. Oliver takes what he wants, but he rarely deigns to admit he wants it, and he certainly never admits to wanting something he can’t have. “You just couldn’t stand to lose what you bought and paid for.”
Something flashes in his eyes. Hurt? Betrayal? Anger? “Is that what you think of me? After everything?”
It’s what I want to think of him. What I need to think of him. That lie is the only thing that held me together after everything else around me fell apart.
“Was I supposed to act like seeing you didn’t fuck me up?” he asks.
“That was over two years ago. It must’ve been really eating you up if it took you this long to say anything.”
“I was trying to let you go,” he growls. “To let you live your life.”
“Well, good fucking job at that. You walked into that house this morning and dropped a bomb, and you knew it.”
“I walked into that house and saw you half-naked, your fucking panties on the floor, and him looking at you like you were his. Apologies if my reaction was inconvenient for you.”
I can’t decide if I want to smack him or curl into his chest and beg him to hold me. Can’t decide if I hate him or need him. “You didn’t have to hurt Alec. Not like that.”
“Was I supposed to be okay with my brother touching you?” His gaze drops to my ring. “And now I’m supposed to be okay with you marrying him? Having his babies?”
I flinch at that word. Babies. For months after Oliver moved away, I wondered if things might’ve been different for both of us if I’d been pregnant. “I would’ve known he was your brother if you ever told me,” I say, my voice softer now. “But you didn’t. You didn’t share your life or your family. You never wanted to let me that close.”
His jaw twitches. “You wanted me to—what? Introduce you to the family that detests me? Take you home to the stepmom who wouldn’t miss a beat before telling you all the reasons she thinks I’m a piece of shit?”
“You could’ve trusted me. Instead, you hurt me.”
“I was honest with you from the start.” He looks me over again, his gaze lingering on my jean-clad legs. Is he still seeing me as I was in Alec’s kitchen this morning? Half-dressed and tousled from a night in Alec’s bed. “I always knew you’d go your own way sooner or later. It was better that way.”
Better for whom? Asking would hurt too much, so I choose a different question. “Are you going to tell him?” My heart is in a vise. Past and present pain are pressing in. “Are you going to tell him what I did?”
He flinches as if I slapped him. “That’s why you’re here.” His throat bobs and his gaze dips to my ring finger again. “You came to my hotel because you’re afraid I’m going to tell your precious fiancé your secret.” He exhales heavily. “It wouldn’t matter if I did. He’s in love with you. I haven’t seen him so protective of a woman in . . . Well, it’s been a while. And when he’s this far gone, he’ll forgive anything.”