Page 61 of He Falls First

Her eyes narrow, trying to decipher what I’m saying. But she doesn’t interrupt me, so I take a deep breath and continue.

“Gabrielle and Harper, they’re important to me. Incredibly important. But it’s not what you think. It’s complicated.” Why can’t I just say it?

“Complicated how?” Elizabeth asks, her voice softening slightly.

I look at her. I’ve been hesitating because with anyone else, I’d be self-conscious about trying to explain this. I’d feel judged. But if there’s anyone who deserves to know the truth, it’s Elizabeth. And maybe she’ll understand.

“Elizabeth, I need you to know something. Being with you, even just for our deal, has made me realize I don’t want to be constrained by the company’s expectations anymore.”

“Are you saying you’re done with this whole ‘family man’ charade?” she asks, her tone guarded.

“More than that. I’ve spent so much of my life trying to fit into a certain mold, and it’s exhausting. But with you, I can be myself. My whole self. You’ve helped me see that I want that for the rest of my life. I want to be my whole, authentic self. Especially with you.”

Her eyes widen and I feel exposed, as if my soul is laid bare before her.

“Okay, Hendrix,” she says cautiously, “but I still need you to explain what’s going on with Gabrielle and Harper. Who are they to you?”

I open my mouth to tell her the truth when the car door swings open.

“Here we are, sir,” my driver announces.

“Thanks,” I mutter.

With an impatient huff, Elizabeth steps out of the car. I follow behind as she strides off down the path leading to the gardens behind my home. The click of her heels echoes off the stone walkway beneath our feet.

We continue on in tense silence until we reach the center of the gardens. Moonlight filters down through the trees, illuminating the tiered marble fountain burbling nearby. Elizabeth finally stops, arms crossed protectively over her chest. She won’t look at me.

“Let’s talk here,” I suggest, gesturing toward a stone bench beneath a canopy of ivy. Elizabeth sits down, her back straight and her hands folded in her lap.

I step closer, my heart hammering. This is it. Time for the truth.

Chapter 25

Elizabeth

I’m looking around Hendrix’s immaculate garden and silently trying to talk my heart out of pounding out of my chest. I’m not sure if it’s the adrenaline left from the club or the anticipation of whatever the hell Hendrix is about to reveal, but my body seems to believe that now’s the time for thrumming.

It’s not like I shouldn’t know better. But it’s still exhilarating to think of the way he claimed me in the club. There’s just something about watching him move like a man possessed. None of the sort of awkwardness he usually has in social situations—if there’s one moment when Hendrix Monroe is entirely sure of himself, it’s when he’s claiming me as his own.

But I’m not his. Especially not now that I know he’s been lying to me.

Only what’s the lie, exactly? Based on his demeanor since we left the club, I have a feeling that whatever he’s about to confess about his relationship with Gabrielle and Harper, it’s not what I expect.

“Okay,” he says, his voice oddly soft as he faces me. “Harper isn’t my daughter. She’s my niece.”

“Your niece?”

“Gabrielle was married to my older brother, Tobias,” Hendrix explains, shoving his hands into his pockets. “We all lived in New York City. Tobias and I worked at Quantum Sphere Corp. It’s one of the companies we founded together. Gabrielle and Tobias had Harper, and I’ve been a big part of her life ever since she was born.”

Oh. Everything starts to click into place, but there’s still so much I don’t understand.

“Wait, so why did you lie about them being here?” I ask, rubbing my temples. “And why are you all here in Sacramento? Where’s Tobias?”

“Tobias cheated on Gabrielle.” Hendrix’s jaw clenches. “He treated her like shit, to be honest. He expected her to stick around while he prioritized his mistress, giving Gabby and Harper whatever crumbs of attention he had left.”

My jaw drops. “What a dick.”

“Wait, there’s more.” Hendrix grimaces. “Tobias even ran an anonymous podcast giving tips to tech bros on how to cheat on their spouses. Made Gabrielle feel like a fool when she found out. And he expected me to side with him, like it was some sort of boys’ club thing.”

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