Page 61 of Pretend for Me

My eyes watered watching my friend struggle with this decision. With a tragedy that changed her life forever. I knew all too well how that felt, as I’d experienced loss time and time again. My parents taken from me at a young age. Losing found family in Beau, and then by the hurt Matthew’s parents and their interference caused. If I could take this pain away from Audrey I would. She didn’t deserve what happened. But life didn’t work that way. the brightest, shiniest people were sometimes given the heaviest pain to bear.

“Audrey, you don’t have to do this. We can head home, and we will never speak of it again,” Matthew offered, giving her an out.

Audrey shook her head and wiped her eyes. She dug in her bag for a mirror and fixed her makeup swiftly. “Wish me luck,” she whispered softly.

32

MATTHEW

Cassie and I sat wordlessly, watching Audrey slowly approach Olivia’s grave. Cass commented that it was similar to how she trapped her stray cats.

My phone beeped with a text from Silas.

Meet me in my office tomorrow. It’s urgent.

After replying to Silas’s message, assuring him that I’d be there first thing, I figured now was as good a time as any to fill Cassie in as to what was happening with Wyatt and the company. She knew I had taken a sabbatical of sorts but was in the dark about the details.

After getting through all the nitty gritty specifics of Wyatt’s alleged crimes, I looked to Cassie and fully expected her to tell me, “I told you so.”

Instead, she just shook her head, her lips forming a thin line. “I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry?” I questioned. “Why the fuck are you sorry?”

I had given up everything for this family. This fucked-up family. I was the one who had so much to be sorry for.

Cassie sat quietly for a moment, chewing the inside of her cheek. I caressed it, trying to calm her nerves.

“I’m sorry they weren’t who you needed them to be,” she said after a moment. “You deserve better. You always did.”

I looked at her with such admiration and love. Even after everything my family and I had put her through, Cassie was still the same pure-hearted girl I met in foster care. She had an ability to love like I’d never known.

Cassie saw my worth when I didn’t. She always made me feel like my scars, both external and internal, weren't important. Now was my turn to show her the same.

“You’re everything I need. And I’ll spend forever trying to deserve you.”

She crushed her lips to mine. “I love you,” she whispered.

My phone started to ring, breaking the trance we were in. I groaned when I saw the name on the screen. “Hello,” I answered, my voice devoid of any emotion. My father had interesting timing considering the previous text I received. My paranoid ass would have to check if the phone was bugged.

“Matthew, I hope you didn’t forget about the anniversary party on Friday. Your mother is beside herself that you only called once since that temper tantrum of yours at the shareholders’ dinner. You do know she has a bad heart, don’t you?” Wyatt reprimanded, clearing his throat.

“Yeah, I’ll be there,” I said neutrally, completely ignoring Wyatt’s digs. I couldn’t blow up about everything Cassie had told me until I met with Silas and we devised a plan on how to handle the shell corp.

I did call Liz to catch up with her last week, and I had also sent a text to Rowena to check on how Liz’s health was faring. Wyatt must not have known about those interactions.

“You better be. And when will you be returning to the office? I have to say, I’m disgusted with your lack of work ethic.” Wyatt blew out a breath, and I could picture him rolling his eyes.

“I’ll have to get back to you on that. Oh, you know what, I have another call coming in. Holden’s getting married soon and needs my help. Great talk.” I hung up the phone quickly, shoving it in my pocket.

I knew that we had some difficult times ahead between Wyatt’s nefarious business dealings and my parents meddling in my love life with Cassie. Not to mention how unfairly Cassie was treated in my world. I had a lot of uncomfortable conversations and decisions to make.

Despite it all, I looked over at Cassie and couldn’t help but smile.

This was what life was supposed to be like. Happy.

The next morning,I pried myself away from Cassie’s naked body, giving her a lingering kiss goodbye.

“Lunch at the restaurant or back here?” Cassie called.

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