Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Dad, we, he was, we were not good together. He needs a wife who is this sweet innocent virgin who won’t cause him trouble and certainly doesn’t stand out at all these events. I never fit in.”
“I know you didn’t, and that is on me. Your mother, she was exactly like you, but she didn’t care to fit in. At some of the parties we were at, she’d be surrounded by people in designer gowns. Talking about how expensive their clothing was. Your mother always made her own gown, her own clothes, and when asked where she got hers, she’d give a fabric store, the yardage, and how long it took her to make. Sometimes she’d give a pattern, but she didn’t give a fuck.”
“Don’t bring Mom into this.”
“I loved her, Alex. Even when she said she wouldn’t marry me because she didn’t believe in it, and also, it would make me work harder, because at any moment, she could still leave.”
“You know, there are times I thought that was a little cruel,” Alex said.
“I didn’t because your mother was right. I worked my ass off to keep her. She never allowed me to take her for granted. She was all fire. Roman, in the early days, he might have wanted this doormat you talk about, but I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and believe me, that is a man in love.”
“Dad, stop it.”
“You need to think about why that makes you upset.”
“I’m not upset.” Tears sprang to her eyes, and she felt like her heart was breaking. The truth was, she had missed Roman, so much. More than she cared to admit. They’d lived together in this house for such a short time, but it had been long enough to leave a lasting impression.
She missed him so much, all the fucking time, and it was … unfair.
“Sweetheart,” he said, moving toward her.
Alex covered her face, trying to control her feelings, but it was too much. She couldn’t handle this. “Dad, please, it hurts.”
Liam wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. “I’ve got you, sweetheart.”
“I … I think I was falling in love with him, but it was all a lie. What do I have to believe? How can I believe anything he has ever said to me?” She began to sob, and Liam held her, but she didn’t want her father. No, she wanted her husband, the man who refused to divorce her. The man who’d finally made a dream of hers come true and wasn’t here to share it with her. “Don’t … kill him for this.”
“Honey, please, you know I won’t kill him. You love him.”
“Don’t, maim him, or hurt him, or injure him,” Alex said.
“Now, unfortunately, you do know me, and I’m a little disappointed I’m not going to get the chance to have a whole lot of fun.” He started to pout, and Alex couldn’t help but laugh at how … silly he looked.
“I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too.”
Chapter Eighteen
The locks on the door had been changed, so his key didn’t work. Alex had forgotten to change the passcode on the front gate, so he was able to get inside the grounds, just not in the house. If he knocked or rang the bell, there was a chance he’d wake the kids. He’d already gotten the details on the kids, and how well they were doing at school, and they were all doing great.
It helped to have Greco as a last name. The doors and avenues it opened were priceless. Alex wasn’t going to raise those kids alone.
He’d already come to the conclusion that she wasn’t pregnant.
Roman was done waiting for a meeting, and instead, was sneaking into his wife’s house. No, their house.
He knew where her bedroom was, and it was a hazard with how high it was, one that he was more than willing to make.
“Who’s there?” a voice said, calling out.
Roman gritted his teeth, looked up onto the porch, and saw Kyle, one of the oldest kids sitting on the front porch.
“Roman?” Kyle asked.
“What are you doing out late at night?”
“Why are you sneaking around?”
“I’m the adult here. You better not be … fucking around.”
Kyle smirked. “I’m not. I’ve got a chem test to study for, and Stuart, just lately, he doesn’t sleep light. My bedroom is next to his and the walls feel like they’re vibrating. I’ve got to think, and I like being outside.”
Roman nodded.
“Are you sneaking in to Alex?” Kyle asked. “That’s kind of illegal and a little stalkery?”
“Is Alex in her bedroom?”
Kyle folded his arms, and Roman gritted his teeth again. “Are we about to have a standoff? Is that it?”
“You and Alex broke up. She said you’re getting a divorce.”
“Not accurate. We didn’t break up. A little misunderstanding, that’s all. I can’t divorce her,” Roman said.