Page 123 of The Fiance Dilemma

“But nothing,” Andrew interjected, voice softer than ever. “You don’t need an excuse or to justify yourself. The mistakes that have led us here are mine. Eloise wanted to protect you, and I can’t say Iblame her.” His head shook, and my chest tightened at the mention of Mom. “You’re not a misstep.”

My lips parted, my emotion coming out in a single breath.

“You’re not a regret, Josephine. I’d love to say that my biggest regret is allowing the circumstances to define how we met, but I’m the only one to blame for that. I see that now.”

I pressed my lips, just so nothing would come out. Just so I would stay strong and not break the promise I made myself to give us space to grow. Whether that was in the same or different directions.

He pulled something out of his jacket.

“These are my responses,” he said, gaze cast down on the stack of letters he held between us. “To the letters your mother sent me while you were growing up. I wish I could tell you some big tale about star-crossed lovers, but we were far more pragmatic than that. I never cheated on Adalyn’s mother. It wasn’t an affair. It was just two people feeling lonely one night.” He sighed. “It all… unraveled quickly, and I was selfish enough to convince myself I had a say in more than just my life. It’s all in the letters. I think that’s why I never sent them.” He took a step back. “Read them. Burn them. Feed them to the press if that’s what you think I deserve. They’re yours to do with as you please.”

I blinked at him as I took the stack. At a complete loss for words.

Andrew continued, “I’ll fly back to Miami today. This is not something you should care about, but the book is not happening. It’s what started all of this, in a way. I was concerned with the tabloids smearing that. My name. My legacy. I suppose the dream had always been a byproduct of my ego, like Bobbi said a few times.” He huffed out a laugh. “I don’t really see how much wisdom I could impart any longer either way, don’t you think?”

My lips fell open, but nothing came out. My brain was struggling to process all of that. To deal with the fact that this was the mostAndrew had ever told me. The most we’d ever talked. The most he’d shared.

“Thank you,” I finally mumbled. “I…”

I won’t burn the letters. Or publish them. I never could.

That was what I should have said.

But I didn’t. “Matthew’s telling everyone the truth. Today. He’s landing in Chicago as we speak.”

Andrew’s mouth twitched and tipped up, gracing his face with a smile. It was an odd one. Small, and crooked, as if rusty from misuse. It was also a surprise. “Good,” he said. “I won’t bother you for a while. But I’d love to have the four of you over for Christmas. Doesn’t need to be a holiday. Any day you can all spare will do.”

My brows arched.

“Feel free to say no.” He took a step back. Then another one. “I’ll keep trying until you ask me to stop.” His head dipped, giving me one stern nod. “Bye, Josephine. Bye, Adalyn.”

I was watching him descend the porch steps in the direction of a black sedan, barely making sense of his last words, when a hand fell on my shoulder.

“You okay?” Adalyn said, squeezing. “You’re barely blinking, and my brain is saying that’s not necessarily bad, but my hormones are on high alert.”

I shook my head, a strange laugh coming out. “I… I think I’m fine. Yeah, I think I’m starting to see how both our mothers weren’t completely blind.”

Adalyn snorted, but the amusement was short-lived. “He has his moments.” A pause. “It’s about to start.”

My heart plundered, and I hugged the letters to my chest. I still didn’t know whether I wanted to read them, but he’d given me the chance to. The choice.

“Let’s go.”

INTERIOR—FILTHY REALI-TEASTUDIO—DAY

SAM: Hi, hello. This is Sam.

NICK: And this is Nick.

SAM & NICK: And you’re listening toFilthy Reali-Tea.

SAM: (laughs) Wow, look at us. Nailing that for the first time inFilthyhistory.

NICK: I know, who are we? (chuckles) It must be the pressure of having such a special guest with us today. And let me tell you, if you’re not watching the video recording and are listening, yes, he’s hella cute too. And he showed up with a man that had me gasping for—

SAM: Stop that, Nick. You said you’d stop flirting with our guests. And the guests of our guests.

NICK: I said I’d try.

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