Page 26 of The Billionaire's Engagement

“You should have knocked, Dad,” I said.

“Kaninong ari-arian ka nakatira (Whose property do you live on?)Ikaw ay nakatira sa aking bahay sa akin ari-arian (You live in my house on my property),”Dad gritted, then he turned to Hudson. When my dad’s angry, he tends to speak in Tagalog, being able to get more of what he wants to say out of his mouth.

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” my dad sneered, glaring at his best friend, his voice lowering to a deadly tone. “Taking advantage of my sweet daughter?—”

“Dad!” I yelled.

“Hudson took advantage of you, Mila. He’s twice your age and shouldn’t be hooking up with you.” Dad’s voice was stern and I wasn’t going to back down.

“It’s not like that,” I snapped. “Hudson and I like each other. I wanted this to happen. He didn’t coerce me to do anything.”

“Hudson’s a grown adult. He should know better than to fuck someone that he considers as his niece. Open your eyes, Mila. Hudson doesn’t like you like you think he does.” Dad stood there, looking at me then Hudson and back at me, shaking his head in disappointment.

I looked at Hudson and he frowned.

“Your dad’s right,” he said, shocking me. “This shouldn’t have happened.”

“What?!” I clenched my jaw, my blood boiling. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Hudson came here to see me, told me that he missed me, and now said it was a mistake?What the fuck!

I glowered at Hudson and he looked away, unable to meet my gaze. Then I turned my head to look at my dad, my gaze narrowed on him, intense.

Dad huffed. “I need to go and cool down…this is all too much. I need time before I talk to either of you again.” Then my father turned on his heel, walking out, slamming the door behind him, the walls shaking.

I turned to Hudson, who got up from the couch, then started to get dressed. I gripped the blanket tightly, the whites of my knuckles showing. My eyes fixated on him, scowling and feeling like I was about to explode with the anger boiling inside me.

“Why did you let my dad talk to us like that? You just sat here taking it in,” I gritted.

“Mila, this was wrong. We shouldn’t have done anything…I shouldn’t have come to see you today.” I could see the conflicted expression in Hudson’s face.

“I thought that I meant something to you.” My voice cracked, a bundle of emotions rising inside me, blinking back tears.

16

HUDSON

“I’m sorry, Mila,” I said quietly. “Your father’s right about everything.”

I watched a tear escape the corner of Mila’s face, breaking my heart. I never wanted to make her cry. That was the last thing I wanted to do, but I did it anyway.

Nelson was right.I should be ashamed of myself. I’ve never chased a younger woman and I definitely never stabbed my best friend in the back before. He trusted in me. Guilt washed over me as I watched Mila sob.

“I’m sorry for hurting you, Mila. I took advantage of you,” I told her.

“You didn’t take advantage of me. I wanted this…just likeyoudid,” she cried. Her eyes were red, her make-up smeared from her tears.

My heart shattered. She was right; I wanted to be with her. She made me happy, but I should have been strong enough to resist her. I knew this would happen once Nelson found out. For fuck’s sake, he caught me buried deep in his daughter.

“I shouldn’t have led you on, Mila. This holidate was a mistake and I shouldn’t have asked you to go with me,” I said solemnly, my heart crumbling into pieces. “It’s best that we don’t see each other anymore.” Saying those words was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, but it had to be done. It’s what’s best for the both of us.Keep telling yourself that, Hudson.

“You told me that you missed me and that I was yours. Was that all a lie?” she asked, her voice cracking.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, unable to answer her. I did say those words to her, but it was in the moment of lust.Right?I walked to the front door, then twisted my body to look at Mila one last time. Sadness washed over me and I wished I could reassure Mila, but it was best if I just walked away and leave.

“You’re just a coward,” she gritted out.

My body stiffened at the blow from her words. I don’t blame her for being upset with me. Maybe I am a coward, but this was what I needed to do. I walked out of her home and never looked back.

I got into my car and buried my face in my hands.I just broke up with Mila.I should feel relieved, but my heart is aching. My decision to break up with her would patch up my friendship with Nelson…or I hoped it would. But why do I feel miserable?

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