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)
“It’s over, Bradley. Not that there was anything real about it.” With a shaking hand, I held out his ring. “This belongs to you. I don’t want it.”
With a muttered curse, he took the ring, looking at the large stone. His eyes fell on my left hand, growing wider as he took in the new ring on my finger. He glared at Adam. “You didn’t waste any time, did you, asshole?”
“We were already engaged before this happened.” Adam snapped. “Her ring was being sized.”
Bradley stepped back, caught off guard. “Engaged? Your mother told me you had broken up. She said he’d walked away from you after the accident.” His gaze flew back to Adam. “Your magazine said you’d left town. I checked. I thought you were out of the picture.”
His words sounded almost true.
Adam shook his head, studying him. “You didn’t check too hard, did you? And you didn’t waste any time either. Sorry if I don’t feel bad or even believe you.”
“I had too much to lose.” Bradley’s shoulders dropped in defeat. “I guess I lost it all anyway.”
“I’m sorry, Bradley. You deserve someone who loves you the way you love them. But it has to be real. You can’t force someone to love you. I hope you find it.”
He looked at me, almost with respect. “Always so generous and kind. You should be screaming. Calling me names. Instead, you wish me a good life.” He looked behind me at Adam. “I guess you deserved those shots.” He paused. “You’re not, ah, gonna hit me again, are you?”
For a moment, Adam didn’t say anything. Then he shook his head. “I want to. I want to beat the shit out of you for the pain you caused me. For the way you treated Ally, making her feel less than she is. I hate you for all that.”
Adam tucked me into his side. “I have her, and I’m never letting her go again. We’re going to build a life together. And you’ll spend the rest of your life regretting the fact that you lost her. I think that pain is far greater than anything I could inflict with my fists.”
Adam lowered his voice. “Know this, Bradley. Try to come between us or say anything bad about her, and I will come after you. You won’t have her goodness to protect you next time. I promise you that.”
Bradley only nodded.
Behind us, the door opened, and my mother called out to me, her voice impatient.
Bradley was one thing. I thought, in a small way, Adam felt sorry for him. My mother, however—Adam hated her. I wasn’t sure how he would handle this confrontation.
How she would handle him.
Bradley spoke up. “I think I should leave.”
Adam shook his head. “No, I think you should stay. Sarah has a lot to answer for to all of us.”
Bradley sat back down on the sofa, his tone defeated. “Well, this should be interesting.”
I drew in a deep breath. Adam pulled me closer.
“I have you. Remember that.”
I held his hand tighter as we turned to face my mother.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FIVE
Sarah swept in, her voice impatient. “What is going on, Alexandra? Why is there a bag by the door?”
She stopped dead, words drying up when she saw me standing with Ally. All the color drained from her face.
I couldn’t resist. “Hey, Mom. Miss me?” I held out my arm. “How about a welcome-home hug?”
“What are you doing here?” she hissed, her gaze darting around the room. She was cornered, and she knew it.
I tilted my head to the side, studying her impassively. “I came home to get what’s mine, Sarah. Did you honestly think you’d get away with this?”
She glared at Bradley. “What are you doing just sitting there? Do something!”
Bradley laughed, throwing her under the bus. “Oh, Sarah. I think we did enough. It’s all done, and I’m not your lapdog anymore.”
She took in the way I was holding Ally and reached toward her. “Take your hands off her. She’s unwell and engaged to another man!”
“Don’t. Touch. Her,” I snarled as Ally shrank away from her touch. “She’s perfectly fine. And she isn’t engaged to Bradley. Not anymore.”
She froze, lowering her arm. “I want an explanation, and I want it now!”
“Oh, you’re going to get one.” I smirked. “Sit down.”
“I don’t take orders from you.” Sarah turned around, heading back to the hall. She gasped when I blocked her path by throwing out my arm.
“I said, sit down. Now. You, lady, are going to listen. You owe us that, at least.”
Her chin lifted haughtily. “I owe you nothing.”
I dropped my voice to a dangerous, low tone and narrowed my eyes. “You owe more than you can ever account for—especially to your daughter. Now sit your fucking ass down before I help you do it.”
Shooting me a look that could kill, she sat down, Bradley remaining silent.