Itransfer the fivemillion to Zander’s account the next morning, and he rings me five minutes later to tell me I’m a fucking idiot.
He’s not alone in thinking that.
“A bet is a bet.”I lean back in my chair and stare out at the view.
Everything in my life feels bleak, empty, and miserable.
I walked out of the hospital room knowing I’d destroyed things between Gemma and me.Perhaps it was for the best.
She deserves better.
“How is she?”Zander asks, crunching down on whatever he’s eating.
“She found out about the bet.It’s over.”
“Did you tell her?”
“I didn’t fucking tell her.Did you?”
“Dude.The fuck?Why would I tell her?Is that what you think?”
“I don’t know.Only the two of us knew—”
“Oh, crap,” Zander interrupts.“I made a comment at the party.Gemma must have overheard.”
I shake my head.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s for the best,” I say, feeling dead inside.“She and Zoe deserve much more than I can offer.”
She now has around twenty million in her bank account, so if that doesn’t help with the penthouse repayments, then she’ll find another home.
Another man.
I curse inwardly, hating whoever the fictional (for now) man is.
“Because you asked her to be your lover, or she learned you’ve chopped up her daughter’s family legacy and sold it to the highest bidder?”
Asshole.
“It’s what I do.”
“Maybe this time it’s different.Did you try to salvage it?”
“Do I look like a fucking BookToker?”
“A what?”
“Never mind,” I grumble and stand up, wandering to the floor to ceiling windows, staring out across Central Park.“She’s taken care of.Zoe can go to the best school and create her own magnificent path.”I smile.“She’ll probably work in robotics.”
“Do I know what that means?”Zander asks.
No.No, he doesn’t.
But I do, because for a brief time I was part of their little family.And I took it for granted because I never believed they could belong to me.
I didn’t think I wanted them to.
