Page 287 of By His Vow

Those words I said to Miles not so long ago continue to cycle around in my head.

I was right. I knew that when I said them, and I still know it now.

It’s why she’s gone.

She’s not ready.

She may never be ready…

All she’s ever done is dream about leaving this place and starting over in England. She doesn’t want a life here; she doesn’t want to be a part of the Warner legacy that those who’ve come before her have worked so hard for.

I admire her for it. There are so many children of successful parents who accept their place in the family just for the fame and wealth. I respect the hell out of the fact that she wants to be her own person, follow her own path, and carve out her own life.

But I also can’t help feeling like it’s a pipe dream. Something that she thinks she wants, despite the fact that her destiny has been, and will always be, here.

With me…

I blow out a slow, pained breath.

It’s not just my chest that feels like it’s gone a few brutal rounds with Tyson Fury, but my eyes too. They’re dry, scratchy, exhausted.

I need sleep, but I fear that nothing short of medication is going to get me there at this point.

Miles is suffering too, but for as concerned as he might be about his sister, it’s not the same as how I’m feeling.

He might be feeling like he’s lost his right arm, but I feel like I’ve had my entire world ripped away.

It’s ridiculous. Only a few months ago, Tatum didn’t feature in my life all that much.

We drove each other to the brink of insanity whenever we were forced to spend time together, but those moments were becoming less and less frequent as we got older.

But now, she’s the only thing I can think about.

Miles thinks he understands, but he doesn’t. He can’t.

Neither can Kian.

The only person I fear might just look into my eyes and appreciate exactly how I’m feeling is a man I’ve been avoiding like the fucking plague.

My father.

Am I being a pussy by avoiding his calls and canceling the meetings he keeps putting in my calendar? Yep, abso-fucking-lutely.

But I also know exactly what he’s going to say. And I don’t want to fucking hear it.

I may not have been privy to the conversations our fathers had about our union, but I know for a fact that my father wouldn’t have gone into it expecting me to fall for her.

He’s always taught us to go into relationships with our heads, not our hearts.

I understand where his advice comes from. The one time he let his heart lead, it ended up shredded and broken.

Our father hasn’t loved since.

Every acquaintance and new stepmother we’ve been introduced to has been a decision based on his head. Someone who’s looked good on his arm, opened up opportunities, and as much as I hate to consider it, probably good in bed, too.

That’s what he expected from me and Tatum in this arranged marriage.

He wanted me to keep my head and secure us Warner Group, to ensure we could continue with our substantial growth.

---