Page 108 of The Painter and His Poet

“I know what I said at the engagement party, but today we’ve both had a reality check. I’m done fucking about. Are you?” he asks, before clicking off the call.

Swiping a hand through my hair, my thoughts wander back to Harlow. It’s about time I tell her the truth about who I am, and I need to trust that she’ll still want me when I do.

“Oh, so you think Daisy’s pregnant too?” I hear Melody say as I step into the lounge in search of Harlow a few hours later. “Because I was thinking exactly the same thing. How else would she manage to pin down such a man?”

“Watch what you say about my friends,” I snap, not bothering to hide my anger as Melody turns to face me, her phone pressed to her ear. Her eyes widen for a fraction of a second before she mutters something to whoever is on the other end of the line then hangs up.

“Sterling, I didn’t realise you were there,” she says, forcing a smile as if that alone could erase the harsh words she just spoke. I honestly don’t know what my father sees in her. She might be beautiful, but her personality makes her ugly.

“What exactly do you think you’ve heard?” I retort, my hackles rising. If she has any idea how close to the truth she is, then things are going to blow up for Dalton and Daisy sooner rather than later.

“It’s just silly gossip,” she replies, waving her hand in the air. “I’m sure they’re very much in love.”

My shoulders relax a fraction. The gossip mill clearly hasn't found out about Daisy’s hospitalisation just yet, and I’m hopeful Dalton is able to come up with something convincing to cover the fact she’s just miscarried their baby. The last thing either of them need is the elite of Princetown finding out and making things a hundred times worse for them.

“Where are the others?” I ask, noticing that neither Harlow nor my dad are in the room.

“Robert is just parking the car in the garage, and Harlow is still in London.”

My head snaps back around as I look at Melody. “Why is she still in London?”

“Robert seemed to think that she was still a little out of sorts, and he thought taking in the sights of London, and doing some shopping might help her to deal with whatever’s on her mind. She’s been distracted all week,” Melody replies, rolling her eyes. “So he’s paid for her to stay another night at the Godolphin on Marleybone.”

“When will she be back?” I ask, trying to keep my cool.

“Tomorrow evening. Which is rather inconvenient given there’s still a long list of things I need her to do for me. Honestly, Sterling, Harlow really needs to get her priorities straight, she’s becoming entirely too selfish in my opinion. I’m going to have a word with Robert to stop coddling her. I think he’s overcompensating because she’s grown up without a father figure,” she continues on.

I turn on my heel not bothering to listen to a second more of her vitriol as I rush out of the door. Pulling out my car keys from my back pocket. I reach the garage just as my father is stepping out.

“Where are you going?” he asks.

“I’m heading over to Drix’s place, he wants me to check in on Lia and Toby whilst he’s at the hospital with Daisy. I’ll be gone for the night.”

“Why is Daisy at the hospital?” my father asks, surprise lifting his brows.

“Call Carl, I’m sure he’ll fill you in,” I retort, before brushing past him and climbing into my car, not bothering to tell himthat once I’ve made sure Lia and Toby are okay, I’m driving to London to see the woman I love.

THIRTY

HARLOW

Gazing at my phone, I chew on the inside of my cheek, my nerves frayed from the bombardment of messages I’ve received from my stalker over the last few days. There are so many that my eyes fill with tears, and my body trembles with anxiety.

Why do you insist on ignoring me, my sweet songbird? I’m contemplating clipping your wings so that you don’t have a chance to fly away.

Though, I rather think you enjoy the chase. Are you behaving this way because you only wish to sing for me? I think perhaps it must be that.

I think about all the ways I’d take you when you’re finally mine. I really hope you fight me. The thought of you pinned beneath me, my cock in your tight cunt whilst you scream for help turns me on.

Does that turn you on?

Soon, my sweet songbird. Soon…

Bile rises up my throat as I throw my phone across the room. It lands on the chaise positioned beneath the window, before dropping to the floor with a thud.

“Sick bastard,” I exclaim, swiping at my cheeks as I try and fail to steady my nerves.

I haven’t left the hotel since Robert and my mother returned to Princetown this morning, and in all honesty I wished I’d gone with them. My insistence on accompanying them both home was met with Robert’s abject refusal, and in the end I’d agreed if only to stop him and my mother from arguing over whether I should take some time off or not.

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