Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 847(@200wpm)___ 677(@250wpm)___ 564(@300wpm)
I checked my watch, unhinged by the prospect of missing my flight and ruining any chances with my feisty little not-gold digger. “What is your point?”
“That you could do worse.” She didn’t dare look at me. “I think Eileen is lying to you.”
“About?”
“Her personality, her aversion to touching, pieces of her history. Take your pick.”
It didn’t come as a shock. Mostly because I’d already placed her on the top of my shit list for the crime of refusing to be broken up with when we were never even in a real relationship.
Any extra negative trait could only be considered a bonus.
“It doesn’t make a difference. The engagement was always a sham. I have no intention of marrying her. The better question is why you would let your son marry a liar.”
“Because she molded her life around yours. Someone willing to do that is someone willing to keep you safe.”
“I don’t need to be safe.”
I was finally realizing that. With each touch. Each rainfall. Each god-awful drive in that death-trap Prius.
Every time I held myself back, I became smaller as a person. There was as much risk in taking leaps as there was in not leaping at all.
“You do.” She shot forward, not quite managing to shout or move where she wanted to, but I knew she would if she could. “You are the only thing left in my world. I love no one more than I love you. Don’t you realize that?”
“No shit, I do.”
She didn’t even admonish me for my language, too busy driving her point into me. “You need to be safe. Your dad would want you alive and happy.”
“I will be happy. So long as I have Farrow. As for alive…” I paused, diving my fingers into my hair. “I can’t promise to be perfect in every single moment, but I’ve certainly learned that life is valuable.” And not through Oliver’s so-called lesson. “I won’t take unnecessary risks. But make no mistake—I won’t cower in fear, either.”
The tap-tap of my heel against the tiles startled me. I hadn’t realized how upset the prospect of cutting Mom off made me.
Truly, before the accident, we shared an incredible bond.
Every time I saw Mom behave like a stranger, latent childhood memories pried at my mind, cracking apart my anger. Late night movies. Surprise arcade dates. Make-your-own dumpling nights. Even Romeo wanted to move into our house.
Granted, he had other reasons.
I waited with bated breath for Mom’s response.
Let me live my life the way I want. Be happy for me.
She lowered her chin into her neck. “What will it take for you not to cut me out?”
On cue, the beeps from the heart rate monitor drummed faster, picking up speed.
I answered immediately. “Accept the end of my engagement.”
“Done.”
“Accept Farrow.” This time, I collected her hand in mine, setting it on my palm. “And eventually, love her like your own daughter. She’s never had a family, Mom.” I looped my fingers with hers. “She’s never held a mother’s hand. I promise, when you get to know her, really get to know her, you’ll love her as much as I do.”
With her free hand, Mom traced the seam where our palms touched, almost transfixed. “Do you really love her?”
“Yes.” No hesitation. Just the easy truth. “I am utterly deranged when she’s not here.”
Mom squeezed my hand after a moment, dragging her eyes up to mine. “Deal.”
“Also…”
She leaned her head back on the pillow, lips forming around a groan. “There’s more?”
“Last thing. Promise.” And the thing you might resist most. “I want you to seek help. For your anxiety.”
“I don’t have anxiety.”
“You do.”
“I refuse to take pills.”
“There are other methods, but if a doctor recommends them and pills are the best option, I need to know you’ll do everything to get better. At the very least, I want you to speak to someone qualified to help you.”
The heart rate monitor went wild.
She shook her head. “But—”
“I need all or nothing, Mom.”
“Fine.” She heaved out a breath, staring off to the side for a moment. Finally, she returned her gaze to me. “I see you staring at your watch every ten seconds. Take the jet. Go get your wife, Zachary.”
T-MINUS 1 DAY.
This will be where I die.
In the sacred, never-before-seen art gallery no one was ever allowed to enter. Splayed across the lifeless epoxy floor. Surrounded by priceless art. Blood splatters camouflaged by the creepy black-and-red Jackson Pollock.
At the very least, I couldn’t find a single alternate explanation for why Zachary Sun had sent me down to his creepy subterranean garage.
Over the weeks, I’d cataloged every item Romeo and Oliver brought to my studio. Nothing went missing, and I didn’t own anything else.
No way did he just want me here to show me all the things I’d never own.
I crept out of the elevator, half-expecting something to jump out at me. The electronic key spat back out from a slot on the other side, eliciting a startled yelp from me.