Page 178 of The Broken Note

“What the hell is this?”

“There’s more.”

My vision turning red, I swipe through the pictures.

An older guy’s got his arm around Cadey and she’s leaning into him. He’s leading her into a hotel. He’s carrying her into a hotel room.

I grit my teeth and try to keep a clear head. “Mom, you can’t believe anything dad sends you. This is all part of his elaborate plan to break us up.”

“Dutch…”

“I won’t fall for it,” I say agitatedly.

“Dutch…”

“If you knew what dad did to keep me and Cadey apart, you’d—”

“It wasn’t your dad, Dutch.”

I feel the world tilt. “What do you mean it wasn’t dad?”

Mom remains quiet.

“What do you mean, mom?” Spit flies from my mouth. I’m trembling hard.

“My son insists on marrying a girl I’ve never met. Did you think I wouldn’t investigate this young lady?”

Finn’s eyelashes flutter and he stares sleepily at me. “What’s going on?”

I give him a panicked look.

He instantly wakes up and rouses Zane too.

“Your grandmother’s inheritance is more than you can imagine, Dutch. Even if you split it with your brothers, even if you give half of it away, it’ll still be enough for you and your children’s children. If you were to marry this girl, she’d receive a windfall—whether or not you two work out. I had to make sure you weren’t being conned.”

My heart feels like it was flung into a grinder.

“My sources say she and this young man have history—”

“No.” I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince her or myself. “There’s got to be another explanation.”

“Since the tour began, Hunter and Cadence have been very close. They spend all their time together. Tonight, they were kissing, drinking, and acting like a couple. And then he took her to a hotel room. You can imagine the rest.”

My eyes squeeze shut.

My shoulders are taut.

Zane walks up to me. “Dutch?”

I shake my head.

Something dark and sinister drops into my stomach.

“Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe she really does love you and this was one mistake, but that mistake has big repercussions. If you insist on marrying this girl, Dutch, and she eventually finds out she’s pregnant, you won’t know who the baby’s father is until it’s born. And by then, it’ll be too late to start from scratch. You won’t qualify for the inheritance and you’ll be stuck raising another man’s child.”

I’m barely breathing.

“Is that the life you want? Is that theloveyou want? Think about it.” She pauses. “The plane will be on standby in twenty minutes. You can be in London before noon. I love you, son. Choose wisely.”

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