Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 113142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Ally’s legs were shaking so hard I wasn’t sure how much longer she could stand. I kept my hands gentle as I tugged her into a chair beside me. “Everything is okay,” I murmured into her ear. Her mother’s presence reduced her to such an emotional low, I wanted this done and over with as fast as possible.
I turned back to them, keeping my hand on her shoulder. They eyed me warily, and I gazed back at them without emotion. I would always dislike Bradley and would never forgive him for what he did, but my anger at him had waned. His pain at losing Ally was real, and he would have to live with it. He, too, had also been deceived by Sarah. And besides, his fucking jaw was like granite, and my hand was already aching like a bitch from the last punch, even though I enjoyed it.
“Tell me how the hell you thought this was going to end, Sarah. Did you think my feelings for Ally were so shallow, I wouldn’t try to find her at some point? Did you actually think you’d get away with this charade? That you could control her forever?”
“I did what was best for my daughter.”
I cocked my head in confusion. “Let me get this straight. What was best was taking away the person who truly loved her, who would have done anything for her, and instead, left her alone to face the pain and confusion of trying to heal from a horrific accident by herself?” I clenched my hand on Ally’s shoulder. “What you thought was best for your daughter, for her peace of mind and well-being, was to lie to her and fill her head with ideas of what you thought was an acceptable path in her life?”
Sarah stared at me, refusing to answer.
“Does your daughter’s happiness not mean a fucking thing to you?”
She waved her hand. “Do you honestly believe you’re going to make her happy, Mr. Kincaid? The lifestyle you lead? Dropping everything and everyone whenever you hear of a new adventure to go on? At least married to Bradley, she had a chance at a stable, normal life. With you, she’ll have nothing but heartache and regret.”
“I made mistakes—yes, I admit that. But I gave up that life for her—for us. That was my last trip.”
“So you say. You disappeared quickly again,” she sneered. “Off somewhere, no doubt taking your little pictures. Making that your priority over her.”
“I left because I thought the woman I loved no longer wanted me. I left town so she could come back to her life here without me interfering. I only wanted her to be happy, so my pain meant nothing. I put her first, unlike you.”
Bradley frowned and looked over at Sarah. “You told me he dumped her when he heard about the accident. That he packed up and left town.” He shook his head. “You showed me the box of her things he’d sent over, that he said he didn’t care when you called him and told him Alexandra was hurt. You said it was time for me to move in and help Alexandra make the right choice. I went along with it because I thought she would come to love me. You lied to all of us.”
I smirked, realizing how large her web of deception was. “Spreading lies everywhere, weren’t you, Sarah? Busy little bee you were, while your daughter was lying in a hospital, alone and injured. As usual, your priorities were skewed.”
“I don’t have to answer to you.”
“No, you should be answering to your daughter.”
Ally spoke up. “I can’t believe you did this to me, Mother. You lied and made things up. You took Adam away from me. You made me think I was no longer capable of trusting myself. I doubted myself all the time. How could you? Why would you—”
She cut Ally off, waving her hand dismissively. “Spare me the dramatics, Alexandra.”
Ally sat forward. “I want you to tell me why. Why have I never been enough? Why did you let Ronald punish me for years? Why didn’t you try to stop him?” She drew in a shuddering breath. “Why did you stop being my mom and become his possession?”
Sarah glared at her. “I owe you no explanations. I did what I had to do so we had a roof over our heads. Ronald was a savior for us. You were always in the way. So much trouble. I should have sent you away.”
I felt Ally flinch, her mother’s nasty words like arrows into her flesh.
“What you have done this time is unforgivable,” Ally said, her voice quavering.
“I’m not asking forgiveness. I did what I thought was best.”
“For whom?” Ally asked quietly, the simple words like gunshots in the room.
Sarah regarded her impassively, not a flicker of remorse or guilt on her face. She sighed and glanced down, flicking an imaginary piece of lint off her skirt, effectively dismissing Ally. Dismissing her pain.