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)
Sarah had shown her true colors to us all. Her need for social standing and wealth was more important than her daughter—a child she never wanted in the first place. She allowed Ronald to take out his deep-seated bitterness on Ally like some twisted equal exchange. Her life for his. To him, Ally meant nothing, and Sarah allowed it. Because she was punishing Ally for being born.
I hoped one day she would rot in hell.
Bradley and I glanced at each other, no animosity in our eyes, united in a common worry. He cleared his throat.
“Alexandra.”
She turned her head, gazing calmly at him.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Our gazes locked again as the doors opened. We didn’t speak as we crossed the lobby and went outside.
Bradley turned to us. “I’ll handle the details of canceling everything. You don’t have to think about it.”
“We appreciate that. Thank you,” I replied, surprised at his offer.
Ally dug into her purse, pulling out a small notebook. “This has all the information in it. You might want to start with Gretchen, the wedding planner. She can take it from there.” A small grimace passed over her face. “I’m sure she’ll be grateful she doesn’t have to deal with my mother anymore. She isn’t, ah, easy to handle.” Then she smiled. A strange, vacant smile that made me shudder. “I guess neither of us has to deal with her after today.”
“Ally—”
“I’m just stating the facts, Adam.”
I didn’t like the sound of her voice—controlled and removed.
“Alexandra—” Bradley started.
“Don’t call me that. I always hated how formal it was.”
“What would you like me to call you? Ally?”
“No,” she said sharply. “That’s Adam’s name for me. You can call me Alex. My friends call me Alex.”
“Are we still friends?”
I was shocked when she suddenly drew back her hand and slapped him. Once. Twice.
Bradley blinked but didn’t move. He barely flinched. I had a feeling the impact of her hand hardly registered. His face was abnormally hard. I only hoped she didn’t hurt her hand.
“That’s for lying to me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t want to see you again.”
“I understand.”
She turned and walked away, stopping after a few steps. She looked back. “Have a good life, Bradley. I hope Calgary is everything you want it to be. Don’t call me.” She paused and cleared her throat. “We’re going away. Maybe we can talk after that. I’ll think about it.”
She hurried over to the car and slid in, slamming the door behind her.
We stared at each other.
“She’s all over the place—she’s gonna explode,” he muttered. “Worse than a slap across the face.”
“Did it hurt?”
“No.”
“That’s a shame.”
He chuckled, then became serious. “Watch her, Adam. This is coming from the doctor in me. Tonight—the events leading up to tonight—it’s all swirling in that head of hers. Add in the side effects she’s still feeling from her head injury… I’m not sure what will happen when she lets it out.”
“I know. I’ll watch her.” I hesitated. “So you’ll look after everything?”
“Yeah, I will. It’s the least I can do.”
Fucking right it was.
“What are you going to tell people?”
“That we agreed to part as friends. Simple.”
“And then?”
“I’ll go to Calgary as planned.” He rolled his shoulders. “I think it’s time bachelor Bradley got to know the city and all its wonders.”
I held out my hand, surprising myself with the gesture. “Good luck.”
He took my hand. “Take care of her.”
“With my life.”
Then he grinned. A wide, evil grin. “And good luck—you’re gonna need it.”
I glared. “You think I need luck with Ally?”
He shook his head, his grin getting wider. “Nope. Not her. Sarah is now your mother-in-law.” He chuckled. “Your headache, not mine anymore. And what a fucking headache she is.”
He walked away.
I stared after him.
The bastard was right. No matter what happened, Sarah was still Ally’s mother, and by marrying her, she was now a permanent part of my life—however limited our contact.
I stomped over to the car.
I should have fucking hit him harder.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX
I slid into the car and turned toward Ally. Her arms were wrapped around her torso, and she was as far away from me as she could get—tucked right to the door. She was tugging on her sleeves, and her feet were fidgeting. She stared straight ahead, and everything about her screamed back off.
I said only one thing. “Please put your seat belt on.”
I waited until she complied before I started the car and headed toward home. This wasn’t the place to push her. I desperately wanted to reach over and take her hand, touch her in some small way, but somehow I knew I needed to let her be.
My mind flipped through the events of the last couple of days, focusing on the scenes tonight. My reaction to Bradley had surprised me. Aside from the one episode, my desire to hurt him had dissipated when I saw the way his eyes looked when he gazed at Ally. I knew that pain—the pain of losing the person you loved. His case was different, however, because he was going to have to live without her—forever. I wasn’t letting her go. I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.