Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 89592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
A woman jumps out and rounds the car. She’s dressed in all black—jeans and a leather jacket. I take notice of her as she’s not dressed for the venue. It’s not until she’s up on me that I place her face. It’s Fran.
“I had to see this for myself,” she hisses at me. “He’s really going through with this. I hate that fucking family. Your fiancé ruined our lives and he gets to live happily ever after. It’s fucking disgusting.”
“The only thing around here that’s disgusting is you. You’re the one trying to ruin lives. You lied about him and have the audacity to stand here like you’re innocent.”
“You know nothing about me.”
“I know if you don’t jump back in your car and leave, you’re going to wish you never left your home tonight. Don’t make me come up out of my heels. I’ll beat the brakes off you like someone should have done when Clay was seventeen.
“Try me, honey. I have a ton of pent-up anger waiting to unleash on your ass,” I snarl.
She looks me over as if she smells something that stinks. I drop my left hip and place my hands on both. Narrowing my eyes at her, I dare her to try me.
“I’ll have the last laugh. I promise you that,” she says before she turns and storms back to the driver’s side of her car.
I roll my eyes and shake my head. That woman and her sister have some serious problems.
Clayton
I look around the room for Sid. She’s been gone for too long. My heart starts to race.
I can’t place my eyes on her. She said she had to go to the restroom, but she should be back by now.
I find Chloe and Ally sitting at a table together. Marnita is at the bar, but still no Sid. I can’t breathe.
I turn to wave David over and that’s when I catch Sidney returning to the ballroom. I reach to rub my forehead.
“Fuck me,” I murmur.
I don’t know how I’m supposed to let her go. I’ve even thought of moving the wedding up so that when the contract is up, she’s already my wife. I’m not ready for her to walk away.
Maybe moving the wedding up isn’t a bad idea. She can’t leave.
Chapter 33
Celebrate
Sidney
It’s been a week since the engagement party, and this all still feels so wrong. So many gifts, more congratulations, all things I’m forced to smile through. This is making me sick to my stomach.
Not only do I feel guilty. My heart aches because I wish it were all real. The pretty lingerie, his and her robes. I want to be able to share it all with Clay.
I’ve come to trust and care for him so much. I down my glass of champagne and wipe at my tears. I stepped out on the balcony to have a breather from all the fake smiles and happy talk of a wedding that’s not going to happen.
“Oh, there you are. Everything okay, dear?”
I turn and force a smile for Eileen. She really doesn’t deserve this. I wish there was a way to back out of this without hurting her or Clooney, especially after what I overheard.
Surprisingly, Clay hasn’t stopped me from bonding with either of his parents. I would have thought he would have wanted to place distance between me and his mother. I was also sure his hate for his father would have caused issues with Clooney’s weekly lunches he now requests my presence for.
“Everything is fine. I’m just thinking about my mother. You know, I wish she was a part of all of this.”
“Oh, honey,” she coos and wraps me in a hug. “I know it’s not the same, but I’ve always wanted a girl and I would be honored if you’d allow me to step up in any way I can.”
Pulling away, I swipe at the tears that break free. I can’t hold them back any longer. I feel terrible.
I almost come clean with the truth. This is all too much. My heart isn’t the only one that will be broken.
“Oh, Sidney. This is supposed to be a happy occasion. Life can throw us lemons, but we make lemonade and sell it to the highest bidder while smiling the entire time.”
I start to laugh through my tears. Eileen’s humor has grown on me. I think I’m falling for the whole family, with the exception of Cane. I didn’t know that would happen.
I didn’t have time to think this all through that night. Everything happened so fast. What I thought to be a boss move has backfired on me. I’ve lost more than money. I’ve lost my heart and I still don’t know who’s behind all this.
I need to talk to Clayton. We have to stop this. I need to leave before I hurt someone or my heart is broken.