“Besides, you’re entitled to half of everything. I fully expect to see you filthy rich for the rest of your life.”
She studies me for a long moment, then stands and takes my hand, pulling me into a hug. We stay like that, arms wrapped around each other, saying nothing.
“I’ve said this so many times over the years,” she murmurs, her voice thick with emotion. “And these last few days, I’ve lost count. But please don’t ever forget how grateful I am to have you in my life.”
Her words land somewhere deep. I tighten my arms around her.
“I’m your ride or die,” I murmur.
Chapter 05
But... it's Thanksgiving
Colin
I ring the doorbell of my own house, and just like every day this past week, they make me wait before opening. Mark answers. We don’t exchange a word; there’s nothing left to say. The humiliation of having to invent a flimsy story about being mugged at a gas station just to justify the black eye and swollen lip is already more than enough.
This week feels like something pulled straight from one of Dante’s circles of hell.
Ceci doesn’t want me in our home anymore. When I’m here, I’m a guest. Tolerated and temporary.
Montgomery Clifford is on the verge of losing an acquisition that was practically sealed. Our legal team is knotted up in two others. And as if that weren’t enough, the potential investor from San Jose—the one I spent hours with, the one I was certain I had locked in—walked away. Even after Jonathan sweetened the deal.
I walk past Mark and into the living room.
“Daddy!”
Alicia comes toward me with quick steps and pulls me into a tight hug. I hold her close, grateful and relieved that this, at least, hasn’t changed. She’s the only one in this house who seems happy to see me.
I kiss the top of her head, and she pulls back. My eyes instinctively search for Ceci, but she’s nowhere in sight. I haven’t seen her since that day.
When I left on Tuesday, after the argument with Ethan and Mark, I met up with Oliver. He told me what he always does, that I need to be patient, that Ceci needs time. Time to forgive me.
But it’s been hard. Hard as hell.
I don’t see her. I don’t touch her. I don’t even hear her voice anymore.
She only communicates with me through texts now. If I call, she doesn’t answer. She just replies to ask if it’s about the kids. If I say no, the message stays on read. Nothing else follows.
“Where’s your mom?” I ask.
Alicia’s face lights up. “She’s working on her new room. Me, Ethan, and Uncle Mark helped her move her things. Mom said she likes the room with the window facing the street better. I even helped pick out some really cool stuff to decorate!”
Her cheerful tone makes every word land harder.
Ceci moved out ofourroom. Out of our bed.
She’s trying to erase me. Erase us.
“Colin, let me sleep a little longer.”
Her voice is sleepy, almost pleading, and it makes me smile as I trail kisses down her spine. When I pull the sheet away and turn her onto her back, her eyes are suddenly much more awake.
I smile again as I lower myself over her, covering her body with mine.
“Shall we go? I’ve got plans early tomorrow with my friends. We can’t stay out too late.”
Ethan’s dry tone snaps me back to the present.
