Page 96 of Stuck with Mr. Grump

She smiles at she looks up at me, and as always the sight of her has a calming effect. Everything will be okay as long as I have her in my arms.

I just want her father, as well. No matter what it takes, I need to fix this.

Carson grabs his phone and starts typing. My eyebrows rise.

“What are you doing? We need to leave.”

“Calm down, muffin. I’m texting Spencer. He’ll know where his brother is,” he informs me.

“Oh,” I murmur, waiting patiently. “What’s he saying?”

“He’s with Sterling right now. He says he’s in a rough way and that they’re headed back to Edenton.”

Oh, God. He left the city?

“We-we can go after them,” I say, breathless.

My brother shakes his head. “Spencer says he’s asked for space to think. You dropped a bomb on him, Em. Give him the night to take a breather. I’m not a fan of him leaving you like that, but I’ve got to see things from his perspective as well. Just give him time. Spencer says we should come over tomorrow.”

I breathe in and out, trying to calm my racing heart. Carson frown as he reads something off the screen of his phone.

“What is it?” I ask worriedly.

“He says to bring the baby when we’re coming.”

I slowly take a seat on the couch, staring forward as I hold my daughter tightly.

Of course he did.

The drive to Edenton is quiet. I haven’t been here in a while. Usually, Anika, my dad, and Priya come to Greenville to visit us. They’ve all been so supportive and understanding. They didn’t argue when I told them my plan was to have her without the Harringtons’ knowledge.

I thought Dad would fight me keeping a secret from them, but he didn’t. They helped me and they were there for me when we needed them.

We stop at my parents’ house first before going to the Harrington estate. Dad and Priya have already been made aware of the situation. Priya gives me a warm hug as soon as she sees me.

“It’s going to be okay, honey,” she says reassuringly.

“I’m just scared,” I whisper. “Did I do the wrong thing?”

Her expression is firm as she shakes her head. “You did what you thought was right, Emilia. You made the best decision for yourself and everyone involved. No one could fault you for that.”

“Trust me, Priya, Sterling’s faulting me for that right now,” I say drily, thinking about how upset he was last night.

“If he can’t see your side in this then he doesn’t deserve you or my granddaughter,” Dad chimes in gruffly.

“I second that,” my brother states.

I roll my eyes, although I’m secretly so grateful for them.

“Sterling’s a reasonable man. You just need to explain why you did what you did. He’ll understand.”

“I hope so,” I whisper.

I’ve tried to call him about twenty times since he left yesterday, and each call has gone straight to voicemail.

What if he’s just done? What if he never forgives me. I’m trying to be positive, though. Sterling’s not like that. I just have to get through to him.

“The whole family was invited to the mansion,” my dad informs me.

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