Page 140 of His Secret

I run a hand over my forehead. “I didn’t end it over him. Yes, I cheated, but I was cheated out of a lot of life experiences because of you, and my marriage ended because I’m finally ready to live my truth. I’m finally out from under you. I don’t need your money or job offers. I’m not afraid of you anymore.” He blanches. “I more than like him, Dad, and you can deal with that or not. I no longer care. Tell David what you want. Tell Mom the same. I’m going to get my car from Charlotte, and tell her that I hope to be her friend. I will always be there for her, but not as a husband.”

I turn to leave and find my mother stepping into the doorway, a look of shock and sadness on her face. Her eyes flicker to Dad before landing back on my face.

She gives me the tiniest smile, but it’s tinged in despair. “Hi, honey,” she says softly. “I heard, well, most everything.”

I inhale deeply and force myself to stare into her eyes. “I came here to tell you both.”

She looks at my father again. “Yes, well, I guess I was late.”

“It’s my fault. I started talking to him about some stuff,” my dad says. “It spiraled.”

“Hmm.” She walks forward and holds my wrists. “I can’t take back how I made you feel growing up. Nor can I change the way others made you feel.” She slides her hand into mine and squeezes gently. “I can’t erase the words of the past, but together, maybe we can write a new path forward, because if it’s the rest of my life without you or a life that involves you and any man you choose to spend it with, I want the latter.”

Tears burn my eyes as I look down at her. She’s neverbeen a warm or nurturing person, and she’s still not. Her words held almost no emotion, but they were clear and concise. She chooses me.

I nod, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “We’ll talk later.”

“Okay.”

I flee the house before emotions take hold.

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

ADRIAN

I driveto David’s house, assuming that’s where Charlotte’s gone. Instead of going inside, I call her from the driveway where I park right next to my car. Surprisingly, she answers.

“Hello?”

“Charlotte,” I say with a sigh of relief. “I’m outside. Can we talk?”

“You’re here?” she questions, her voice going up an octave.

“Yes.”

“I’ll be out in a minute.”

She ends the call and I end up leaning against my rental car for nearly five minutes before she appears.

Wearing a pair of wide leg pants and a tank top, she walks toward me and rests her hip on the front end of my car.

“I’d apologize for taking the car, but I’m not that sorry.”

My lips pull up on one side, forming a sad smile. “That’s fine.”

She runs her fingers through her hair, making it fall over onto one side. “I guess you’re here to take it back.”

“Yes, and to talk to you. I just left my parents’ house.”

“You told them?” she asks.

I nod. “Did you tell your parents?”

She hesitates briefly before nodding, chewing on her lip. “They know.”

Pushing away from the car, I move a little closer to her. “Charlotte, I really want to apologize.”

She brings both of her hands up, palms facing me. “Please don’t. It’s not going to help anything.”

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