Page 91 of Pucking Secret

I let out a bitter laugh and shake my head. “So, Owen just lets himself get walked all over, and I’m supposed to… what? Forgive him for not fighting for us?”

Elise shrugs, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Maybe he finally is. I don’t know what he has planned, but I know he cares about you. He left for Canada today to confront his stepfather once and for all.”

I furrow my brow. “Canada? He went to Canada?”

Without telling me?

She nods her head. “He said he’s going to end this. He even talked about cutting ties with his mother if she insists on supporting his stepfather. I’ve never seen him so determined to finally break free from the Westons, Stacey. He wants to be withyou and your daughter, and he’s going to do whatever he has to so he can be.”

I want to believe her — God, I want to believe her so badly — but I’ve been burned so many times already, I’m not sure I can. Every piece of this puzzle feels jagged, cutting into me as I try to put it together. If Owen really wants to be with me, why would he go to Canada without a word? Why wouldn’t he tell me about Elise?

Why did he write me that letter when he first left me?

Part of me knows I’m being hypocritical after keeping so much from him for so long, but I can’t help myself. There are just too many questions I don’t have answers to, and it’s making it difficult to believe anything anymore.

“I don’t know if I can trust any of this,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.

Elise’s gaze is sympathetic. “I get it, but… just give him a chance, Stacey. He’s trying. He really is.”

I drop my eyes to my coffee and let out a sigh. “I hope you’re right.”

Later that night, after Millie is finally tucked into bed, I settle onto the couch with Grace and Skyler. I invited them over after work to explain everything that’s going on with Owen because I need advice. After my conversation with Elise, I feel at a total loss.

I have no idea what I’m supposed to do now.

“Wait a second,” Skyler interrupts when I’m nearly through my explanation, holding up her hand. “So, the whole engagement was something their families cooked up? Elise and Owen really had no interest in it?”

Nodding, I pull my knees up to my chest and hug them tight.

“That’s what she said,” I reply.

Grace shakes her head with a baffled look. “Jesus, the uber-wealthy are so weird. Jensen’s dad tried to force him to marry someone else too. Some rich socialite heapprovedof. It’s like they think it’s the Middle Ages or something.”

“No kidding,” I mutter, rubbing my temples. “Elise said Owen cares about me, that he’s trying, but I don’t know. Shouldn’t he have told me about all of this? About Gerald? About the engagement? I feel like such an idiot.”

Grace places a comforting hand on my knee. “You’re not an idiot, Stace. But… I think you need to stop assuming the worst right off the bat.”

I blink at her. “Excuse me?”

Grace shrugs, her lip curling into a knowing smile. “Come on. The three of us? We’ve all jumped to some wild conclusions about our men before, and every single time, it’s blown up in our faces. I refused to be with Jensen just because he was a hockey player and I had all these biased opinions about them because all those years back, I thought Owen had run off, leaving you pregnant and alone. If I hadn’t let go of my preconceived notions, I wouldn’t be with the love of my life right now.”

Skyler snorts. “And I almost missed being with Carson because of something he said when we were kids. Looking back at it now, I was so stubborn and shortsighted. If I hadn’t taken his immature words to heart, we might have gotten together years ago.”

“Don’t dwell on the what ifs,” Grace says pointedly. Then, in a softer tone, continues, “What we’re saying is, maybe it’s time to give Owen the benefit of the doubt. At least until you hear his side of the story.”

I sigh, leaning my head back against the couch. “I don’t know if I can, Grace. He lied to me — by omission, sure, but it still feels like a betrayal.”

“I get that,” Grace says gently. “But do you really think he doesn’t care about you? About Millie?”

My chest tightens at her words. No, I don’t believe that. Despite everything, I know Owen loves Millie and, in some strange way, he loves me too.

Still, I don’t know if that’s enough anymore.

Skyler nudges me with her elbow. “Look, Stace. We’re not saying you have to forgive him right away, but don’t shut him out completely. Not until you know the full truth.”

I chew on her words for a moment, my thoughts swirling.

Putting on a grin for their sakes, I say, “You’re both annoying, you know that?”

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