Page 79 of Tempt Thy Neighbor

He’s exactly right. Sutton doesn’t need his family. He’s strong on his own.

His father stumbles back as Sutton releases him.

Eyes wide, Reginald straightens his jacket and juts his chin out.

“You need to leave, boy. Before I call security and have you removed.”

“Like I’d want to stay.”

He grabs my hand and pulls me through the crowd. I don’t dare try to pull away.

We’re nearly to the exit when I hear someone call my name.

“Holland!”

I turn to find my parents standing just a few feet away.

My father’s face is pinched in disapproval, and my mother looks like she’s about to explode.

“What the hell was all that about, young lady? We invite you here to make amends andthisis what you do? Cause a scene? Embarrassing your father like this? And in a dress from three seasons ago?”

I open my mouth to tell her just what is on my mind, but before I can say anything, Sutton moves in front of me.

“With all due respect, Mrs. Evans, piss off.”

“Sutton!”

He ignores me and levels my father with a heated stare. “While we’re on the subject of shitty parenting, you, sir, are an ass. Your daughter loves you and admires you so damn much, and all you do is treat her like she’s your slave. She told you she wanted something more out of her life than being at your beck and call, and you—what? Tell her she’s going to fail at every turn? Just because you’re afraid she’ll find something better without you?” He shakes his head. “It’s sad you didn’t give her the chance to thrive at your company, because she’s brilliant at what she does. She’s smart and innovative, and if you had just listened to your daughter for one damn minute instead of bossing her around, you’d have seen how incredibly talented she is.”

For the second time tonight, I’m stunned into silence.

My eyes find my father’s, and to my surprise, he isn’t upset by Sutton’s words. If anything, he looks pained, like he’s finally beginning to understand for the first time.

“Holland, are you just going to let him talk to your father that way?” My mother lifts her chin into the air, peering down her nose at me.

“Yes, because it’s true. And it’s everything I’ve been wanting to say for years.”

“Holland! I am so incredibly disappointed in your behavior. This is completely unacceptable. This—”

“No, Mom. What’s unacceptable is you trying to marry me off to the richest man in the room four years ago, lying and scheming behind my back.”

“I…I…I was trying to do what was best for you.”

“No. You were trying to do what was best for youand yourimage. You didn’t care what I wanted. You’re done sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

I grab Sutton’s hand, more than ready to leave.

“Are…are you twotogether?” my mother asks, eyes lit with excitement like I didn’t just say anything to her.

“With all due respect, Mom, piss off.” I repeat Sutton’s words to her, turning for the exit.

We barely make it ten feet before my father calls out to me.

“Wait,” he pleads.

I turn back. “Dad, I really don’t have it in me to do this tonight. I—”

My words are cut off when he pulls me into an embrace.

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