I place my hand on my hip. "And what about the other women? Did they all push you, too?"
He chuckles. The sound makes my skin crawl.
"I have my reasons, Harper."
I open my mouth, but he swings open the front door before I can speak.
"You’re looking at this all wrong. We could also make a lot of money, Harper. Your video was hot as fuck. We could even make some new ones together," he says, wiggling his eyebrows.
Like I’d ever fuck him. I would rather he killed me at this point.
My blood boils. My fists clench. And my head starts to spin so violently, I have to grab the doorframe to keep from hitting the floor.
"Shit," I hiss.
He's already climbing into the driver's seat of his Bentley. Already moved on. Already treating the worst thing he's ever said to me like small talk.
I hate this man. I hate him more than anything.
But I also hate myself. For getting here. For letting it get this far. For every choice that led me to this doorframe in this mansion in this city, dizzy and nauseous and wearing another man's necklace under my collar because it's the only thing keeping me alive.
I take a breath. Steady myself and walk to the car.
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
Ace
Four Days Later…
I thought winning the rodeo today might make me feel something.
I was so fucking wrong.
Yesterday, I thought Carson signing over Ranch 42 to Hunter might make me feel something. Again, I was wrong.
I'm numb. Ever since watching Harper marry a man that wasn't me, I've felt nothing. Not even anger. Just nothing. Like I'm completely out of fuel. Running on fumes, going through the motions of a life that doesn't feel like mine anymore.
"Want another beer?" Colten asks from the kitchen.
I nod. Still staring out the window.
But then Wyatt runs in, with a now visibly pregnant Lola following behind him and Violet. He rushes at me and jumps on my lap, nearly winding me with an elbow to my ribs.
And I smile. Wrapping my arms around him. He grabs my hat from beside me on the couch and puts it on his head, giving me a huge grin. It swallows his whole face.
"You were awesome today, Uncle A. Like. So good. I’m gonna tell everyone at school."
I hug him tighter. This kid thinks I'm the greatest thing, and I think I'm a complete piece of shit. All I can see is the pain on Harper's face when I told her I was done.
And I know that was what I had to do. Hunter, Colten, and Jett all agree. Yet for some damn reason, I can't stop thinking about thewhy.
She went to LA to call everything off and come home to me. What the fuck happened?
Hunter is certain she's not in danger. Gianna confirmed it's nothing from her end.
But Harper is damn good at sacrificing herself to save others.
Wyatt pokes me in the cheek, and I chuckle. "Oi."
