Mom chuckles. “But they are quite pretty. They look familiar, though.”
“They should,” I grin. “They’re yours.”
She rolls her eyes. “Now, about tomorrow…”
A small groan slips from me while we walk down the crowded street. “What about it?”
“Be on your best behavior, and for the love of God, avoid all elevators.”
A coat of blush appears on my cheeks, but I brush it off in the cold weather that’s affecting me. “Yes, ma’am. Anythingelse?”
“Try not to look at Astrid like you want to murder her, please. I get that we don’t like her and all, but there will be a lot of people there, and I don’t want unnecessary gossip surrounding you. I need at least one child to be proud of.”
“Got it,” I nod. “What about Sawyer, though? Don’t tell me they’re going to be living with you?”
Mom gasps, horrified. “God forbid. The plan was always for you two to get the hell out of my house when you get married. It hasn’t changed just because his choice of a spouse is questionable. I can’t have you two ruining my peace forever.”
I roll my eyes. “You’ll cry when I officially move out.”
“Tears of happiness, yes,” she drawls out. “But in all seriousness, I’m not sure where her parents stand, but your father hasn’t changed his mind about cutting Sawyer off financially.”
“That’s what he deserves.”
Mom sighs, stopping briefly and turning to look at me. “Perhaps. And I hate Sawyer for what he did. I hate him for choosing Astrid over you in such a serious matter. It’s not how I raised him. But in the end, he is still my child, Sophia. I can’t shut my heart off for him. I can’t just be indifferent to my baby.”
I bite the inside of my cheek. “I know. So, are you helping him?”
“To teach him a lesson, your father has revoked all the business rights. Sawyer’s still throwing a fit, but he’ll get his inheritance. After that, your father won’t help him financially at all.”
“Is he still going to be working for the company?”
“That will eventually be your choice.”
I blink, taken aback. “Pardon me? My choice?”
“Sawyer will continue to act as the COO until you take over as the CEO. After that, it’s your choice. He won’t get his share of thecompany, though.”
“What about the restaurants? Those were originally supposed to be mine, not the oil company.”
“I’m hoping to convince your father to give him that instead.”
“Knowing Sawyer, he won’t settle for that.”
Mom sighs, and we continue walking toward the restaurant in complete and utter silence between the two of us. The street is packed, the cars honking, and all the noise manages to filter out the thoughts I’m having.
“Baby?” Mom calls out, and I glance at her.
“Hmm?”
“Do you think you’ll ever forgive him?”
“No,” I say without missing a beat, although my heart feels as if someone had stabbed it. “I can’t. Because no matter what, he chose someone who wanted to hurt me so badly and didn’t care. It was sheer luck that Aria was there and wanted to help me. If she hadn’t, those images would’ve been everywhere by now, and I’d be ruined. He didn’t care about that, and he still doesn’t.”
“I understand,” Mom nods, but a look of pain flashes in her eyes. “I won’t ask again.”
I know this is difficult for her, too. Sawyer and I used to be as thick as thieves, and the fact that he allowed a woman to destroy our relationship hurts Mom, too. Well, in all fairness, Astrid did little. If Sawyer truly cared about me, he wouldn’t have picked her. She’s to blame for the images being spread around, but not for Sawyer choosing me. It’s all his fault. And I know him like the back of my palm, sooner or later, he’ll regret it, and come running back.
I’ll be waiting to ruin him because anyone who dares to hurt me doesn’t get to just apologize. Holding grudges may not be healthy, but revenge alwaysfeels good. I’m vindictive, and I’ll never abide by ‘forgive and forget’, because I can’t. I’ll never forgive him, since I know that sometime in the future, it will fucking hurt him. And when the time comes, I’ll be ready with pitchforks.
