Page 53 of Her Filthy Mistake

“I don’t understand.”

“Yes, you do.” He drops his arms to his sides and stomps to the coffee table where he shoves his keys and wallet into his pockets. “You just don’t want to believe that I manipulated you. That I used you.”

“I don’t believe you. You’re lying.” Tears sting my eyes.

He lifts his chin, giving me a smug look. “I’m not lying.”

“Fuck you.” How could I have been such a fool? He tricked me. He pretended to care about me. And all of it was to get close to my dad so he’d bring him onto the label. What a fucking asshole. Thank God my father was smart enough to see through his carefully woven web of lies. I snatch up a vase, tossing the calla lilies to the floor, and hurl it toward his head.

At the last second, he dodges it, letting it crash to the floor, sending glass and fresh flowers scattering in every direction.

“I think you already did.” He winks, stomps past me, and grabs the door handle.

My breath comes out in ragged gasps, feeling like shards of glass are ripping my insides to shreds.

His shoulders are rigid as he turns to my father. “Old man, it looks like you won.” He shakes his head. “And sadly, I think you’ll sleep better at night with that knowledge.”

“Get the fuck out of here, and don’t ever talk to my daughter again.” My dad steps toward him.

But before my dad can lunge at him, Jace punches him in the face. “You’re the biggest fucking cocksucker I’ve ever met in my life.”

“Stop!” I run toward him, ready to do what, I don’t know when the door slams shut behind Jace as he disappears.

“Baby….” My dad shoves out his arm. “He’s not worth it. Let it be. It’s a price I’m willing to pay to make sure he never takes advantage of you again.”

My entire body shakes as I run my fingertips over my dad’s cheek. It’s covered in red marks that are sure to leave a smattering of multicolored bruises in their wake. “You need some frozen vegetables or an ice pack.”

“It’s fine.” He gathers me to his chest, rubbing my back. “I tried to warn you, but you didn’t believe me.”

The second I’m enveloped in his arms; I inhale his scent and the tears fall. Sob after sob racks my body. I almost gave up my family for Jace. I was ready to quit my job and leave behind my entire life’s plan for a man who can’t keep his dick in his pants and needs substances to get by.

How did he keep his use from me over the last week? How did I not notice? Why did I foolishly believe his stories about that woman? Was I so desperate for his attention that I ignored every sign? Even the one shoved in my face when she was all over him at the bonfire two nights ago.

I choke on a sob and sag against my father as I’m no longer able to stand on my own. All he had to do was say she was a groupie and I believed him. Jesus. My head hurts. I step back and scrub my hands over my face. It doesn’t help. Nothing is going to ease the pain of this moment. I foolishly thought I was special. What a joke.

I clear my throat and straighten my shoulders. “I’m sorry I defied you. And that I didn’t believe you.”

He cups my cheeks and swipes at the tears with his thumbs. “You remind me of when you were a little girl and needed daddy’s hug to make it all better.”

“It’s not working.”

“Soon, everything will be better.” He smiles. “When we get home, you’ll be too busy to remember this fiasco. He’s gone, and everything is back to normal.” He rubs his face with the handkerchief that was fisted in his hand. “I’m sorry I had to confront him before you got here. I couldn’t have him convincing you that I wasn’t telling the truth, so I had Lilith and Hollis stop you. I needed you to see once and for all how shady and manipulative he is so you could move on.”

Move on? How in the hell do I move on? “I’m not ready to move on.” My shoulders ache from keeping my head up. It’s too much effort to stand, so I drag myself to the sofa and plop down.

“You’ll be ready to move on soon enough.” He smiles brightly and sits beside me. “Ethan can’t wait for you to get back. He’s very interested in exploring your relationship.”

“Dad, I’m not interested in dating Ethan James. Or anyone else for that matter.” How can he talk about someone else at a time like this? Tears spring to my eyes again. I’ve been in love with Jace for four years, had everything handed to me on a silver platter, and then it was immediately yanked away. I don’t ever want to look at another man again.

My heart skips a beat as I stare at the beach scene on the wall. Love? I loved him? The shaking that had subsided returns in earnest. I loved him, and he threw it in my face. All while he was laughing at me. The fucking son of a bitch. How dare he. I jump up. “No matter what happens, he’s never going to break into the music industry if it’s the last thing I do.”

My dad’s mouth spreads into a wide grin. “That’s my girl. I love that determination. No one takes advantage of my girl.” He joins me. “With the proper motivation, no one will give him a second look.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “That won’t be an issue.” There’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll do whatever it takes to blackball Jace. Nothing is off the table.

Chapter Thirty-One

One Week Later

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