Page 149 of Forever To Me

Chapter 33

Walker

Idon’t say a word as I grab Stella’s arm and haul her toward the door.

She stumbles in her too-high heels, yanking against my grip, but I don’t stop.

Ican’t stop.

The second I saw her standing there, smirking like she owned the place, like sheowned me, the air in my lungs turned to pure fire and rage.

Theaudacity.

She doesn’t get to be here. Not inmy town. Not inmy bar.Not nearmy daughter.

I shove the door open and drag her out into the cool Wyoming night, the door swinging shut behind us. The distant hum of music and conversation is swallowed by the silence outside, the only sound between us is the sharp click of her heels against the pavement as Ilet her go.

She smooths out her shirt, her lips curving into that same smug,infuriatingsmile that used to make me lose my mind—in every damn way.

I used to love that smile. I used to think itmeant something. Now?

Now, it just makes my stomach churn. It's a smile I never wanted to see again.

Because that smile? That smile is nothing but destruction. A wrecking ball disguised as lies and expensive perfume. And I’ll be damned if she comes back here, after all these years, to tear down what I’ve built. What I’ve worked my ass off to create. The life I made for Mack. The life I made for myself.

I inhale sharply, working to contain the rage pulsing under my skin. She doesn’t get to do this. Never again. Not after what she put me through. Not after the wreckage she left behind, wreckage I barely crawled out of.

And now she’s here? Acting like she has therightto step back into our life?

She has no right. She signed those rights away and left our baby all alone just hours old. But my anger isn’t just about me. It’s aboutMack.

She’s in there, in the bar, probably trying to act like she’s fine, but Iknowmy kid. I know when she’s putting on a brave face. And even if she’s indifferent now, thiswillaffect her. How can it not? And I’ll be damned if I let Stella hurt her, too.

I force the words through gritted teeth. “What are you doing here, Stella?”

My voice is low. Rough. Barely restrained.

She lets out a breathy, almostlaughablelittle sigh, pressing a manicured hand to her chest.

“Asher—”

I shake my head. “No.Cut the shit. Why the hell are you here?”

Her lips press together, the mask slipping just enough for me to see something else beneath it, desperation. The need to control the situation and manipulate it to her benefit.

“I fucked up,” she whispers, her voice small. “IknowI fucked up.”

I say nothing. Becausewhat is there to say?She’s right. Shedid. In more ways than I can count.

She swallows, eyes darting over my face like she’s searching for a weak spot.

That used to work on me. She used to look at me like that, and I’d soften. I’d let her in. I’d believe whatever bullshit she fed me because I thought I could fix things, fix us. But I’m not that man anymore.

Not after what she did and not after what it cost me.

“I just…I want to make amends,” she says softly. “I want to see her. I want to seemy daughter.”

The words hit me like a kick to the gut. I gostill. My body moves before I think, stepping closer, my voice dropping to something dark, somethingdangerous.

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