Page 104 of Knot My Only Fan

“No, don’t.” I swallow the lump that’s grown in my throat.

“I wanted to tell you, I promise.” His tone is softer and calmer. “I wanted Lucas to be given the time to work out his issues with his father.”

“And now I need time,” I whisper, the exhaustion of the day weighing down on me. “Time to process all of this.”

“I understand,” Stanton replies softly. “I know I messed up, Grace. The situation was complicated because of Lucas’ father, but please believe me when I say that I love you and the baby, and I desperately want it to be mine.”

“And Lucas?” I blow out a breath and close my eyes, trying to calm my nerves.

“I’m working on him.”

“His father was here.” I don’t know how much to tell him, then I decide he deserves to know.

“He was? Why?” His voice shakes, already afraid of what I’ve been told.

“He was the one who told me everything.”

“His father?”

“Yeah. It appears I’m the last to know, and he didn’t like it one bit.”

“I’ll make it right,” he says.

I cover his claiming mark with my fingers. I really need his soothing mouth on it to take away the ache.

“I feel you Grace. I’m sorry. Let me make it better,” Stanton says as he tries to push comfort through the bond.

I reject it and disconnect the call.

Chapter 33

Lucas

Silence has suffocated us for a day now, and the tension in the air is thick and palpable.

“We need to talk.”

Stanton spins to me, betrayal in his eyes. “Why? She told me she hates us both.”

His face contorts in a mixture of anguish and nausea, his hand clutching at his stomach. The sickly pallor of his skin suggests he’ll vomit at any moment.

Still holding his stomach, he looks at me and glares. “This is all your fucking fault. I trusted you, Lucas. I protected you from your fucking father, and he went and told her I was there during her heat.”

What the fuck!

I blink hard as I grip the bridge of my nose. “He spoke to her. Why the hell has he spoken to her?”

“Because he always wants to win,” Stanton scoffs, the bitterness in his tone unmistakable. “And you fell for whatever he told you. Otherwise, why did you tell him?”

A surge of anger courses through me, overpowering the hurt. “I trusted him.” It feels like a betrayal from my father. “I thought I had a connection with him for once in my life.” My voice softens pleadingly. “I know I messed up, Stanton. But I did nothing out of bitterness. My father saw how hurt I looked when Grace was wearing your jersey. He knew.”

“You were jealous.”

“Of course, I was fucking jealous.” I close my eyes, trying to calm my racing heart. “But don’t stand there all innocent. You knew what you were doing?”

“I did.” Stanton shakes his head. “But you were never supposed to walk straight into your father’s plans.”

My father always plays his games, manipulating situations to his advantage. And this time, I’d fallen into his trap.

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