“There is nowhere to go.”
I’ve read articles and watched shows about the moment someone snaps, but I never truly understood it until this moment.
Until he decided to disrespect Brooke.
I’ve let him get away with a lot over the years, but this is fucking unacceptable.
I stand slowly, palms face down on my desk as I lean toward him, my voice low and seething.
“You’ve had a revolving door of women for years and you want to criticize my commitment toone?”
“We’re better than this!” he yells. “We are Richfords, and for god’s sake, Dutton, what I do in my free time doesn't concern you! Do we really need the reporter staying here to print false information about us and who we spend our time with?”
“Whoa, whoa.” Gavin appears at my door, hands held high in defense. “I can hear you all the way down the hall.”
“So can I,” Grace says, stepping inside and closing the door. “Are you two really fighting right now?”
“It’s just a simple disagreement,” my father says.
“No, it’s not,” I say in return.
“Okay, well, we all know you two have never really?—”
“Either you tell them right now or I will,” I demand, cutting Gavin off.
This was not how I ever wanted it to go, but there is no time like the present.
Henry just stands there, not saying a single word. Clearly, he wants me to be the one to spill the beans, instead of owning up to it. I should have known. After all these years, not once has he admitted that he's done something wrong.
“Henry's been cheating on Mom for years,” I say, cutting to the chase and staring right at him. “And the minute those magazines find out the truth aboutyou, this lodge could be done for.”
Henry huffs. “Oh, please. As if my personal life would have any effect on this place.”
“It would,” Gavin chimes in. “One of the things people love best about this place is how it's so family-friendly, and they love the backstory of the romance between you and Mom, and Grandma and Grandpa. If this is true, you've ruined it.”
My gaze falls to Grace.
“Is he telling the truth, Dad?” she asks.
Henry groans, like this is just some annoying conversation he wishes he weren’t having. Like we are wasting his time.
“Typical Dutton, just looking for attention.”
“I'm not looking for attention,” I shout. “I saw you. I watched you. I caught you in the house and at the lodge. I saw you buying flowers for other women. I saw you buying jewelry and gifts for other women. And you know it.”
He shakes his head. “The stories you can come up with are crazy.”
“They're not stories!”
“Come on, Dad, tell us the truth,” Gavin says.
Grace looks like she's about to cry.
“I can't … does Mom know?” My sister barely gets the words out.
Instead of waiting for him to answer, both she and Gavin look at me.
I give one single nod.
