Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 156029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“I’m divorcing Penelope.”
“You are?” I ask hopefully, and then my face falls as reality creeps back in as to why. “Is this because of Spencer? Has seeing him opened a can of worms for you?”
He stares out over the sea as he thinks. “No, we were always going to end.” He sips his drink. “It took some time to prepare myself to walk away. Although all this has forced my hand. When you get married you just assume…” He shrugs. “You assume that it’s all going to turn out, you know?”
I nod as I listen.
“Finding out that the person you fell in love with doesn’t love you back… it’s a tough pill to swallow.”
His words come a little too close to home, and my eyes glaze over.
“I never aspired to be a divorcee.” He frowns. “She’s been seeing someone else.”
“What?”
“I caught her out again just recently. She doesn’t know that I know.”
I stare at him, my heart filled with sadness. “God, Will.”
He shrugs. “I asked Spencer to testify that he was sleeping with her while she was married to me.”
“What?” I frown. “What did he say?”
“He said that he didn’t want to drag you through the mud any more, and his only concern was you.”
My heart drops. My welfare has only ever been his concern.
We sit in silence for a while as we both stare out to sea, lost in our own sad thoughts.
“Are you going to take him back?” he eventually asks.
I bring my feet up onto my chair and tuck them under myself. “I wish it was that easy.”
He raises a brow. “What do you mean?”
I run my finger along the edge of the table as I try to piece together my jumbled thoughts. “Every time I think of him, I see Penelope. He knew she was married, for sure.”
He clenches his jaw. “I don’t think he did, to be honest.”
“He’s made a fool of both of us, William. Have you seen the tabloids? We’re a laughing stock,” I whisper. “How am I supposed to forgive him for that?”
I wipe a stray tear and smile sadly. “I’m not sure I like this relationship thing.”
“It fucking sucks. Badly.”
I giggle at the irony of our situation. “Did you ever imagine sitting here in Maui and having this conversation?”
He shakes his head. “Can’t say that I did.”
I giggle, despite my tears, and then some kind of sanity band breaks and we look at each other and both burst out laughing.
William puts his hands over his eyes. “This is the most fucking ridiculous situation I’ve ever heard of.”
I laugh harder. “I know.”
“Poor fucking Edward.” He chuckles.
We suddenly fall serious as we think of the anguish our brother will be going through over this. He’ll be having a conniption from the disgrace of it all.
“He knew heartbreak was imminent for me,” I say.
“I know he did.” He sighs sadly. “He was only trying to protect us both in his own fucked up way.”
“Maybe we should have listened when we had the chance.”
Once again, we fall silent.
“Well, Charlotte,” he says with renewed purpose. “There is only one thing to do in this situation.”
“Please.” I smirk. “Tell me what that is, because I have no idea.”
“Drink all the alcohol on the island.”
He raises his glass and I smile as I lift mine to meet his. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Bottoms up.”
* * *
The afternoon sun shines through my sheer drapes. I’m in a sleepy daze.
William wasn’t joking, and he and I did practically drink all of the alcohol on the island last night.
We’ve taken it very easy today. There’s been swimming, eating, and now an afternoon nap.
I’m past being upset. Now I’m angry.
My hotel phone rings and I frown.
“Hello,” I answer.
“Hello, Miss Preston?” the concierge asks.
“Yes.”
“You have a visitor here in reception.”
“Who is it?”
“She says her name is Sheridan Myer.”
25
Charlotte
“I beg your pardon.” I sit up immediately. “What did you just say?”
“A Sheridan Myer is here to see you.”
My blood runs cold. What the hell does that bitch want?
“Please tell her that I’m not accepting visitors.”
“Just a moment.” She puts her hand over the phone, and I hear her relay my message in the background.
“What? Give me the phone.” Sheridan says before I hear her voice directed at me. “Listen, princess, I’ve flown a long way to come and see you, so you get your arse down here right now.”
“I’ve got nothing to say to you.”
“Well, I’ve got plenty to say to you, and I’m not going home until I do.”
“What do you want?”
“Come downstairs, for Christ’s sake, and I’ll tell you.” She hangs up the phone before I can argue.
I slam the phone down in a fluster and stare at it for a few moments.
What the hell?
I run my hands through my hair and begin to pace as my nerves go into overdrive. What does she want? I can’t deal with her right now.