Page 47 of Whatever You Need

I ignored her tone. “I wanted to talk to him about the contract.”

“What about it?”

I closed my eyes and swallowed the ball of nerves in my throat. “I’m having a change of heart and I need more time.”

She stared off into the distance. “I thought this was all settled. What’s brought on this sudden change?”

“I feel like I’m rushing headfirst into something that I’m not sure I’m even ready for. I just wish it didn’t have to be like this.”

Her gaze finally shifted back to mine. “Amelia, you are strong and loyal, and have enough drive to take the family name further than your grandfather ever could. Your dream has always been to run the company and I know this isn’t the path you wanted to take to get there, but you need to accept that this is your destiny.”

“You honestly want your only daughter to marry out of obligation instead of love?” I was taken aback by her directness. “Please make me understand why it has to be this way?”

She visibly swallowed. “You’re young. You need to understand that relationships take time to build and develop.”

“Why don’t you understand that there isn’t a ‘relationship’ to build on with Owen?”

She shot up from her seat. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why she was so upset. “This is the life that you wanted. Owen is the perfect man for you. You used to be crazy about him. I know he can be a bit unpredictable, but deep down he cares for you. If you marry him, you will never have to worry about anything ever again.”

“If I marry him, it feels like I’ll be making the biggest mistake of my life.”

It felt like my head and my heart were at war with each other. This thing with Marco was still new. I could see myself falling in love with him in a way I would never come back from, yet it didn’t stop me from wanting to be with him.

“Amelia.” She reached out and squeezed my hand. “You are so close to having everything you’ve ever wanted. Let Owen be the man that can give you the life you deserve.”

I laughed out loud. “Owen is the man you want me to marry. The life you are referring to is the ‘life’ you want me to live.”

“I know this is complicated, but Owen will rise to the occasion and things will work out for the best.”

That’s where she was wrong. Owen would never come around. He would never be the husband I would want or need. He was too busy being the center of his own universe. That’s why I felt so strongly about pursuing things with Marco, because these feelings, no matter how hard I tried to ignore, weren’t going away.

I might as well just throw the grenade and get it over with.

“I’ve met someone,” I said, rushing the words out before I could take them back.

“Is it serious?” she asked without any show of emotion. Her lack of curiosity surprised me.

I blinked at her in confusion. “We are just getting to know each other.” That was a massive understatement. This weekend was the best I ever had. I haven’t smiled or laughed so hard in my life.

She eyed me warily. “Good.”

I cocked my head and stared at her. I swear, this woman was testing both my patience and my sanity. “You don’t understand. I care for him. Yes, it’s new, but it feels like things are changing. I look at the world differently and I’m not sure what I want anymore.”

She closed her eyes, looking defeated. “Who is this man that has you questioning everything? How well do you know him?”

“His name is Marco. He’s a detective. We’ve only known each other for a few weeks, but he makes me feel alive when we’re together. He makes me…”

“What you’re feeling is fleeting. It will pass. Trust me,” she said cool and indifferently, her words cutting me off at the knees.

“Why are you being like this?”

“I’m looking out for you and your interests. You need to put a stop to whatever you have going on. Put some distance between you and this man. This isn’t just about you, Amelia, there are people counting on you.”

My eyes stung with unshed tears and I looked away. “Give me one good reason why I would walk away from the only man who has shown me what real happiness looks like.”

“Amelia.” She closed her eyes and looked up at the ceiling. She was taking way too long to answer me and suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck prickled. “Your dad wasn’t you’re biological father.”

My head jerked back like she physically struck me. “Excuse me?” I said, shocked that I could even find my voice. What the hell was she talking about?

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