He digs out his phone and places it on the table in front of me, with a movie queued up to play. “What is that?”
“Your estranged asshole of a grandfather was still so bitter he decided to hurt your mother after his son died by taking away her favorite thing. It was your grandfather who was buying the building and pushing you both out of here.”
My eyes widen at his words. “What? Are you sure?”
Who in their right mind would ever do that?
The thought of it validates every feeling and reason why my father disassociated from his family. It’s mind-boggling that he was ever even related to such hatred. My father was the kindest man. He didn’t have a mean or vindictive bone in his body.
“Not only that, but he thought he could outsmart me. He came to my office and gave me an ultimatum: Break up with you, or he’d kick you out of the bakery.”
“What the actual fuck,” I shout, annoyed. Can this get any worse? “I don’t even know the man, and I already hate him. Why would he go to you? What do you have to do with this?”
“He was scared that now that you’re with me, people will dig around and figure out you’re an Archibald.”
“I am not an Archibald,” I say with meaning.
He smirks. “I know, baby, I mean by blood only. Anyway, watch this.” He presses play on his phone, and I stand in shock, watching the security footage from Harrison’s office.
I gasp in horror about fifteen times.
Who could be this cruel?
When I’m done, I stare at the black screen momentarily. “Wait…what was Uncle Philip doing there?”
Harrison waves me off. “He came back alone and has been helping me ever since. As you know now, he hates your family. He’s putting on a show to collect enough information to expose them and hopefully take over one day.”
My nerves settle slightly. I would have been so disappointed if my uncle had been involved. In the couple of months I’ve known him, he’s already become incredibly important to me.
To have a part of my dad with me again is a blessing and has helped my healing process tremendously.
“So what now? I hate the idea of them taking this away from us. They’ll knock it down to spite us.”
That has a smile stretching the width of his face. “Now they can go fuck themselves because you and I own the building.”
“What?” I shriek, and he hands me over the deed to the building. “Harrison Davenport. What did you do?” I cry.
“Now the building stays in the family, and the treasured spot that is so important to you and your mom will always be yours.”
My hand flies to my mouth to hold in my sob. “I can’t let you do this. It’s too much.”
A whole freaking building?
“Juliette, it was nothing. Pocket change.” He winks.
“But—”
“No,” he firmly cuts me off. “You’re not fighting me on this. It’s a done deal. Get used to this, Juliette. It’s your life now.”
There’s my man.
Demanding as hell, and I wouldn’t take him any other way.
I interlock our fingers and bring the back of his hand up, pressing my lips against his skin. “Thank you, H.” I can’t react properly because I’m still stunned. I shake my head in disbelief, then continue. “I’m thankful not only for the building but also for you having my back and sticking up for me to my estranged family. It means the world to me.”
“You’re welcome, baby. I’ve told you before I would do anything for you.”
“So we can stay? Mom can keep her bakery?”
