Page 65 of Pretend for Me

Parker chanced a glance back at the Harrises’ house, and once satisfied that no one was coming, he explained, “After Liz went to Wyatt, we still tried to file paperwork to adopt Cassie. There was no reason she shouldn’t have a home. A few days after completing the application, Wyatt called me into his office and presented me with the shell corp, stating if we went through with it, he would frame me as CEO of all these defaulted companies and the embezzlement of Adams Point. When I wasn’t scared enough at his threat about myself, he presented me with his backup plan.” Parker gulped, rubbing the hairs on his chin.

“Tell me. No more secrets,” I demanded, practically shouting in the open space.

“You. He would frame you too,” Parker whispered into the darkness. “If I didn’t comply, he was waiting for you to join the company, and years down the line, he would frame you as the greedy adopted son,” he admitted. He pulled Joy, who was still sobbing, into a hug.

My fists balled at my sides. This was sick even for Wyatt and Liz. I couldn’t believe how I chose them and thought their intentions were pure. I felt like such a fool.

“So you stayed,” I concluded, “to keep me safe.”

Parker nodded, shrugging his shoulders.

“Matthew, you must tread very lightly. I know you think you know what you’re doing, trying to bring all this into the light, but I don’t think you understand the lengths to which these people will go to protect their secrets,” Joy warned, and she motioned behind me.

I brushed her off, thinking how different my life would have been if Parker and Joy were successful in their attempts to adopt Cassie.

Before I could say anything further, I noticed we had company coming toward us. I peered around the fountain to see Marie, the Harrises’ housekeeper, running down the drive.

“Mr. Matthew, your father is looking for you. He needs you to introduce him to the crowd,” she said, out of breath.

I huffed out a breath and turned to head toward the house.

Marie called out behind me, “Your mother went home, Matthew. She wasn’t feeling well.”

I didn’t even bother acknowledging any of those comments. I was fuming. I didn’t want to even look at the man, let alone announce him and his bullshit company. Wyatt had ruined so many lives. I was determined not to let him ruin any others.

I stalked up the drive, my arms waving to Parker and Joy to follow me. As I motioned to them, my eyes fixated on my watch. The watch Wyatt gave me when I agreed to join the fucking company. The watch he gave me after ruining Cassie’s life. The watch he gave me after making Parker a fucking slave to his company. The watch that represented all the lies and bullshit I’d listened to throughout the years.

I quickly sent a text to Silas, alerting him it was go time. Now or never. Wyatt’s time had run out.

I walked through the Harrises’ house in silence. Everything around me was a blur. I couldn’t spot a single soul until I placed Wyatt, who was standing on the platform stage waiting for me to join him beside the podium. I eyed Wyatt’s smug face. Hewouldn’t get away with this. He couldn’t. All I saw was red. I saw visions of Cassie happy, content with family. I saw her going to college, getting her first car, birthday parties, and holidays. Not misery and fear and constant worrying and taking care of others. I saw us going the distance and not breaking up, having no time apart. I saw the life that Wyatt had ripped away from me. From her. And now Wyatt was going to pay.

I climbed the stairs and sucked my teeth, without a glance at the audience. I wordlessly stomped over to Wyatt and punched him square in the jaw.The sound of Wyatt’s body hitting the stage echoed in the large banquet hall as my hand pulled away.

The watch face splintered into a million tiny shards of glass as it hit the floor. Everything it once symbolized was as meaningless as it was now. It was ruined and so was any semblance of a relationship I would have with my so-called adoptive parents. This was the final nail in Wyatt’s and Liz’s coffins.

I crouched down next to Wyatt. He was trying to scramble off the floor and salvage part of his night as I grabbed his lapels, pulling him impossibly close.

“You son of bitch! Cassie could've had a family. A family. She deserved people who loved her, who stood by her, and you cheated her of that chance. The SEC has everything. All of your little games are finished. Done.” I barked into Wyatt’s ear. I pulled away, resisting the urge to clock him again. I stretched my fingers, my hand sore from the jab.

I stood up and walked through the crowd of whispering people, calling out behind me, “Consider this my resignation.”

After things wentto shit at the anniversary party, I blindly made my way back to my apartment. Everything was so fucked and I had no idea what the fallout of my rash decision was going to be. As the doors opened, I was met with darkness and an empty living room. Audrey must have left already, but it was still early so it was surprising that Cassie was already in bed. In that moment, the loneliness felt overwhelming. I punched the wall next to the elevator, letting loose expletives as the pain radiated up my already bruised knuckles. “Fuck,” I muttered as Rocky lingered at my feet.

Grabbing some ice from the freezer and wrapping it in a kitchen towel, I made my way over to the bar cart and poured myself some bourbon. I threw it back in one go, letting the alcohol burn its way down my throat. I refilled my glass as I loosened my tie, desperate to escape the chokehold this life had on me. I’d shucked off my suit jacket and was untucking my dress shirt from my pants when the bedroom door creaked open.

“Matty, what’s going on?” Cassie lingered in the doorway, drowning in one of my t-shirts, bare legs on display.

The sight of her, fresh-faced and disheveled, wearing my clothing and being marked as mine, calmed some of the turmoil inside me. The longer I let myself savor the fact that she was here, that she looked happy, the more rage I felt as I thought about all of this evening’s revelations. Being deceived by people who were supposed to love me stung, but what hurt the most was that Cassie could have had a family. I’d never be able to forgive them for that.

No matter how much I wished it were the case, I couldn’t rewrite the past. I just needed to find a way forward. She was here, mine and real. All we had was now and forever. I was ready to start living.

I stalked over to her, caging her body against the doorframe. I cupped her cheek, losing myself in the affection shining inher golden-brown eyes. I leaned down to suck her bottom lip between mine. The taste of her reignited a fire in me, and my hands slid down her body, dipping below the hem of the shirt to grab hold of her ass. I squeeze both cheeks, pulling her hips against my cock which had grown hard at the overwhelming sensations of having her in my arms. The urge to lose myself in her spurred on my actions and I hoisted her up, pressing her against the wall.

“Are you okay?” she asked after we broke apart for air. She brushed my overgrown bangs from my eyes, peering at me with concern.

I couldn’t put into words how not okay I was, so I just shook my head and covered her mouth with my own once more. I deepened the kiss, gliding my tongue against hers, drawing from her a deep moan. The kiss was passionate and full of need.

“I want you, Cass. I need to be inside you.” I spun her around so that her hands were pressed against the wall beside the bedroom. My mouth trailed down her neck as I spread her legs apart, letting my hands roam her body.

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