Page 88 of Twisted Truth

“If you had a different heart, darling, I would agree with you. Some people do not need to marry to find fulfillment and happiness in life. But you are not one of those people. Asher, you may deny it, but that doesn’t make it truth. You are a passionate, loving person, who needs connection. You’ve been that way since you were a boy. You were not made to be a lone wolf. That’s not to say that you’re not independent, you are, but independent and completely alone are two different things.”

My father’s smirk is as smug as a cat’s as my mother essentially repeats his earlier words.

“You may have grown somewhat accustomed to being alone, but don’t think that your father and I don’t see the scars of it on you. Don’t think we don’t see your face when you see your old friends with their wives and children. Don’t think we’re fooled into thinking that your line of disposable women gives you any sort of happiness. You may lie to yourself, but you can’t lie to us. You are lonely. You are unhappy. And you keep yourself that way because of fear. Because of what happened with your grandfather.”

“I’m not here to discuss grandpa or that night.”

“Don’t let that night haunt you out of a life of happiness, Asher. It would be such a waste.”

“And my pendant is the answer? I should just give it to a woman I barely know for the sake of good press? I thought these were supposed to be sacred to our family.”

“Then treat Ella sacred after you give it to her.”

“And again, when this is all over and I’ve treated her sacred for months, I just what—snatch it back from her neck? I can’t not have it to give to my future wife; that wouldn’t be theLangfordway.”

“You’re so damn obtuse sometimes that you might have the pendant thrown back in your face if or when it’s all over.”

“That’s the thing . . . you just said, ‘if.’ Why are you both gambling so hard that the ending is anifand not awhen?”

“Because I want you totry. Things may not work out with Ella, and if they don’t, they don’t. But I cannot sit back any longer and watch you flounder in loneliness and pretend you don’t care. You have one life to live, and I’m tired of watching you waste it.

“If it doesn’t work with Ella, at least you will have lived. At least you will have done something. And then when you recover, you’ll be better. And when the right woman does come along, you’ll be ready for her. Because right now, you’re not ready. And I can’t think of anything sadder, my darling boy. Because if you gave a woman your all, if you gave yourself to her, heart and soul, she would be the luckiest woman in the world. Not because of your wealth or your Langford name, but because ofwho you are.”

“We don’t want to hold onto this pendant for the next two decades waiting for you to figure it out,” my father says, gently. “We never had to push you out of the nest; you were ready to fly on your own, all too soon. But now, we need to push you to make your own nest. You deserve true happiness, and your life as it is now, is not that. Please listen to us on this. Please try. Take a risk. You may be surprised how things work out.”

I let out a long breath and open the smaller box. A set of Langford cuff links that match the pendant sit inside.

“Like it or not,” my father continues, “this jewelry has been the way the Langford men have made a claim and given their women protection for over two hundred years. It’s not the same now as it was back then, but it will still send a strong message that will garner Ella a great deal of respect. Which should help repair the reputation you unintentionally hurt.”

My mother closes the lids on the jewelry boxes and places them in my hands.

“This is bold,” I say, unsure, as I take them from her.

My mother tips her head in challenge. “And the Langfords are known as the Lions of New York. I didn’t think lions were quiet, submissive creatures.”

“You want to earn her trust? You want to keep her safe?” my father asks. “You want to make it clear that no one is allowed to hurt her? Then you protect her the way Langford men have been protecting their women for two centuries.”

“How . . . would I even give it to her?”

“It must be grand, darling. You cannot give this on a simple whim like an afterthought. Most Langford’s had celebrations for the giving of the pendant.”

“When I’m back from London, then.”

“I’ll help you plan it.”

“That will take some time, though. Which I don’t have.”

“Then think of another gesture in the meantime. Something more personal than flowers.”

“Go on, now,” my father says. “And don’t get into your head about it.”

I let out a derisive laugh.

Like that’s possible.

26

ELLA