Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 65683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
“You’re supposed to be mean. Offer me hush money to stay away from your son or something equally as evil,” I joked.
She cracked a smile. “Yes, well, now that I’m divorcing Vaughan's dad, I’m feeling pretty good.”
“Divorcing?”
She shrugged. “It’s been a long time coming. We haven’t been together in a very long time as you know. On top of that, it was me that brought money into the marriage. I waited until a few of his companies started to suffer—we have an ironclad prenup—and wouldn’t you know, he couldn’t sign those divorce papers fast enough once I offered to bail two of them out of the red.”
I laughed. “Diabolical.”
“I’m a woman, and I let that man steal my power for way too long, too afraid about the image we had procured. You know? I saw my son's face at our last dinner and realized it was time to cut him loose too. Let him live his life the way he deserves and allow myself the grace to live mine.”
I grabbed both of her hands. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I’m probably going to throw a divorce party.”
“I’m probably going to ask to be invited.”
“There will be cake.” She winked just as the sound of a bag dropping on the ground had us both staring at the front door.
Vaughan stood there in his workout clothes staring between the two of us.
I jumped to my feet. “How much did you hear?”
He took a deep breath. “Well, it started at being pregnant and ended with cake. So pretty much all of it?”
“Van, I'm sorry I can—“
His smile wasn’t panicked at all. Instead, he held up a finger and turned toward his mom. “I’m proud of you for leaving him.“
She started to cry. I reached for her hand and held it again. She squeezed it back, then walked up to Vaughan and gave him a big hug. “I bought you a gift. Now I think I’ll need to go shopping again but for smaller things…” She beamed. “Here, I thought I was bringing you something special, and I leave with something priceless.”
“I’m very emotional right now.” I sniffled. “You can’t say things like that.”
“If it’s okay…” She tucked my hair behind my ear and put her hands on my shoulders. “I would like a do-over. I don’t really deserve it, but I’d like to be a mom to you and a nana to that little one. I know you both need to talk, so I’ll leave. But think about it.”
“It’s already been thought about.” I hugged her. “But I have to talk to your son first.”
“Yeah, the son is still standing here having a nervous breakdown.” Vaughan raised his hand.
Clara stepped away from me and back toward the door. “You two talk.”
“Oh, there will be a lot of talking.” Vaughan stared me down. “And then a lot of silencing.”
His mom was gone.
It was just me, him, the baby growing in my stomach, and this giant secret I kept from him out of sheer fear and being overwhelmed. I took a shaky breath.
“You’re pregnant?” he asked with wide eyes.
I nodded, unable to form words.
“I need to hear you say it.”
I found the courage. “Yes, “I’m pregnant, Vaughan.”
He didn’t give it a second thought. He fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around my waist, and kissed my stomach.
Our future.
I allowed his lips to linger until my shaky hands curled in his hair, fully aware that I now had the power to bring him to his knees. He peered up at me as the father of our baby. Mostly as the man who had walked through hell and back.
“I can’t believe we’re pregnant.”
“Same.” I sighed. “Vaughan, I—"
“Me first,” Vaughan said before I could fully exhale. He gripped my hands, then went down to one knee. What was he doing? What was happening? “Before you panic and think I’m on one knee because I feel forced into it, just know, I’m never letting you go. This was eventually going to happen. I was planning on it after graduation and stressing out that it would scare you away. We never did anything the normal way, Tru. I love you. I’ll adore this baby and pray it’s a little girl I can spoil so I don’t have a little boy growing up who can beat his dad at everything.” Tears streamed down my face. “I’m happy with anything. We’ve finally found each other again. I’m sorry. I’m sorry that you felt like you couldn’t tell me right away and that you took this on yourself.”
I was so done crying, but apparently, that was all I did now. Tears blurred my vision. “I love you.”
“Then be mine forever,” he rasped. “Please.”
I smirked through my tears. “Never thought I’d see Vaughan Aires on his knees begging me so politely.”
“I’ll be polite now. Naughty later.”