Page 112 of From Rivals to I Do

23. Chapter Twenty-Three

24. Chapter Twenty-Four

Epilogue

Thank You

Prologue

Finally, rest and a piece of mind. This past year my life has been so hectic. I have gone days without being able to go to sleep. I miss Reece a little, but sometimes having him around costs more than he is worth. The rhythmic sound of Charlee’s breathing was the only noise that could relax me and help me sleep. Knowing she could rest always gave me a sense of peace and contentment despite how badly Reece and I had been fighting. Some nights we would fight all night, depending on his mood. I never let Charlee know that her father could be a monster. Charlee loved Reece, and Reece loved Charlee when he was not too drunk to show it.

Mommy “Can daddy tuck me in tonight?” Charlee asked. Once again, he was nowhere to be found. I sadly responded, “Honey, Daddy is not here, but you can sleep with me tonight,” so she crawled up and snuggled beside me. She hates sleeping alone. It’s weird because Reece is so loving and a great father when he is sober. Unfortunately; for Charlee, he has been gone for a few weeks now, and I cannot help but wonder if he is ok. Although it is more peaceful without him, I would never want anything bad to happen to him. I laid my head next to Charlee and began to dose off to sleep.

Suddenly, a loud banging at the door startled me and awakened me from a deep sleep[E1] . My heart races as I sit up and listen, trying to determine what’s happening. The banging continues, and I realize it’s coming from the front door. Panic grips me as I imagine all sorts of terrible things that could be happening. Is it a burglar? A home invader?

Or is it Reece?

I prayed it was not him. But in my heart, I know who it was.

Fear and adrenaline raced through my veins as I approached the door. I glance at my sleeping daughter, relieved the disturbance hasn’t awakened her. Over the years, I always tried to shelter her from his angry outbursts and disruptions. But, little by Little, his drinking and insecurity took over our relationship. He was so loving when we first met, and our wedding day was beautiful, but as the years progressed, he drank more and more.

I go to the front door, and another thought crosses my mind. Can it be Reece? I dismiss the idea immediately. He hasn’t been home in 2 weeks. So instead, I grab a solid heavy lamp stand on my way down the stairs.

As I open the door, a stench of alcohol hits me in my face. It is Reece! Charlee’s father is standing right before me, swaying and slurring his words. He’s drunk, and I feel a wave of anger wash over me.

“Reece! You can’t be coming home at this time like this. You have a child. What kind of example are you setting for Charlee?” I don’t hide my irritation.

“Where’s my daughter? I want to see her,” he demands.

“If you’re going to come in here and cause a ruckus, I think you should go back to wherever you’re coming from,” I say, walking back into the living room.

I feel a pull on my head. Reece spins me around by my hair to face him before a big thump lands on my right cheek and then another while he still has my hair gripped tight with his left hand.

“Who do you think you’re talking to? Have you forgotten who’s the man of this house?”

“Please, Reece. Let go of my hair, and you’re hurting me.”

He releases my hair, falls on the couch, and passes out. I stand over him, tears rolling down my face. I can’t help but question myself, “Who did I get myself into this mess”?

***

I wake up to the sound of my alarm, feeling a sense of dread as I remember that I have a date today. Ria, one of my closest friends, set me up with a woman she met at a conference. So naturally, I’m not exactly thrilled about it.

I know people are often interested in me because of my social status and wealth. However, women get so star-struck with me being a billionaire that I don’t think they even pay attention to me. It’s a frustrating reality that I’ve come to accept, but it makes it hard to trust anyone. I never know what their real motives and intentions are.

Still, I know my friend means well, and I don’t want to disappoint her. She’s been one of the few constant people in my life. Our fathers were friends and business partners, and we picked up the friendship years ago. So, I force myself to get out of bed.

I take a quick shower and get dressed, but I can’t shake the feeling of disinterest. I try to remind myself that this could be a chance to meet someone new and exciting, but it’s hard to muster any enthusiasm. I would rather just stay home.

As I walk to the coffee shop, I feel my nerves fray. What if I am wasting my time again? I took a deep breath in to calm my thoughts and be optimistic. I began to rehearse in my mind; this could be the woman of my dreams. Afterall, I desire to fall in love one day and marry that special person. I never know this may be her.

Despite my reservations, I force a smile on my face. “Hi, my name is Leonard. It is a pleasure meeting you.” “Hello, how are you? Ria has told me great things about you. I have looked forward to meeting you for some time now” We talk over coffee, but I can tell from the beginning that there’s no real connection between us. It feels like we are just going through the motions, trying to fill the awkward silence with meaningless chatter. She’s a top account manager in a bank and handles big clients, and I feel like I am one of her clients.

By the end of the date, I’m relieved to say goodbye and head home after being talked into opening an account at her bank. It’s a disappointing experience but not unexpected. I long to find the true love of my life, someone who loves me for me. So, the search continues.

Chapter one

Chapter One

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