Page 47 of Stealing Daddy's Heart

Garrett stands, his presence steady and reassuring. “I never meant to hurt you, George, but I won't give her up. Skylar's right. What we have... It's not something we can ignore or push aside. I'll resign from the company if I have to, but I'm not walking away from her.”

Dad slams his hand on the table. “And what about our business, Garrett? What about everything we've built?”

“That doesn't change,” Garrett says firmly. “My feelings for Skylar don't negate my commitment to Apex or our friendship.”

Dad looks torn between anger and confusion. His eyes dart between Garrett and me, as if seeing us for the first time. Then his shoulders slump, the fight draining out of him.

“I need some time to process this.” He looks at Garrett, his expression unreadable. “We'll discuss this later.”

He turns to leave, pausing at the door. “Skylar, I'm sorry. For everything.” With that, he's gone, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

As Dad leaves the room, I turn to Garrett, feeling drained but stronger. He opens his arms, and I collapse into his embrace,burying my face in his chest. The familiar scent of his cologne grounds me.

“That wasn't how I imagined this evening going,” I say, my voice muffled against his shirt.

“It was bound to happen sooner or later,” Garrett says softly, his thumb tracing circles on my back. “It was unavoidable. But are you okay?”

I laugh, but it comes out more like a sob. “I don't know. It's a lot to take in. The Scarpettas, the danger, us. All this time you knew.”

Garrett nods, eyes regretful. “I wanted to tell you, Skylar. Every time you shared your excitement, it killed me to hide the truth.”

I touch his face. “Must've been hard, protecting me without betraying Dad's trust.”

He leans in, eyes closing. “It was. But seeing you happy, chasing your dreams–that made it worthwhile. Even if I couldn't be fully honest.”

His words resonate deeply. Despite my earlier anger and hurt, I admire his strength and dedication to both Dad and me.

“No more secrets between us, okay? We're stronger when we're honest with each other.”

“No more secrets,” Garrett agrees, his arms encircling me. His chest expands against mine as he takes a deep breath.

I look up at him, my heart racing. “Did you mean what you said to Dad? About walking away from Apex if you had to?”

Garrett's eyes lock onto mine, unwavering and intense. “Every word. Skylar, you're more important to me than any job, any company. I love you. I have for a long time.”

The words hit me like a physical force. My heart stutters, then pounds against my ribcage. I've imagined this moment countless times, but reality trumps every fantasy.

The world narrows to just us, the warmth of his embrace, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my palm.

Heat blooms in my chest, radiating outward until it reaches my fingertips. My skin tingles where it touches his. But along with the warmth comes a twist of guilt and fear.

The weight of what we're risking—what Garrett's willing to give up—settles on my shoulders.

“I love you too,” I say, the words ringing with certainty.

This isn't some fleeting emotion or a reaction to the chaos swirling around us. It's solid. Real. Unshakeable. “But Garrett, Apex is your life's work. You built it with Dad. I can't ask you to give that up for me.”

Garrett's hands cup my face, his thumbs tracing my cheekbones. “You're not asking. I'm choosing. Apex is important, but you're essential. I never thought I'd find someone who sees me, all of me, and still chooses to stay.”

I lean into his touch, torn between elation and worry. “And I never thought I'd find someone who challenges me, protects me, and excites me all at once. But at what cost, Garrett? If we do this, I could lose my father. You could lose your best friend, your business partner.”

The reality of our situation crashes over me like a cold wave. The potential loss of my father's trust and affection sits like a stone in my stomach, heavy and immovable.

I've found love with Garrett, but it comes with a hefty price tag. But can I pursue this love if it means sacrificing everything else?

Garrett's arms tighten around me, and I feel his heart racing to match mine. “I know it's not simple, Skylar. But we can't deny what's between us. We'll find a way to make this work, to show your father that our love doesn't diminish what he means to either of us.”

I nod against his chest, wanting desperately to believe him. “And if we can't? If he never–?”

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