Page 103 of Devious Temptation
But hearing my son acknowledge he’s in the wrong stays my hand.
“Rhys, you don’t know what you’re saying,” his mother whimpers. “Don’t let him talk you into this.”
“I’m not, Mom. It’s what needs to happen. I was in the wrong.” Rhys finally looks at me, his eyes flashing with thinly veiled hatred. “I am still sounbelievablypissed at you, Dad. But I’m ready to take responsibility for my actions.”
Shock ripples through me. I wasn’t expecting him toagree.
My son gently maneuvers his mother to the side as he cocks his head toward the backyard. “We should probably talk.”
Charlotte releases a dramatic sob and flees down the hall to her bedroom. Both Rhys and I wince as she slams the door.
“Okay, I guess we’ll just talk here then.” He takes his mother’s seat, eyes darting to the divorce papers. “You’re really going through with it, huh?”
I don’t know what to say, so I remain quiet.
He blows out a breath as he scratches the back of his neck. “So, what? Are you going to ask her to marry you?” His words are full of grit and malice, striking me directly in the center of my chest.
“Rhys—”
He raises a hand to stop me, shaking his head. “You know, never mind. I don’t think I’m ready to hear it.”
A heavy silence falls between us. The clock ticking on the wall is loud as the seconds stretch on, barely concealing Charlotte’s muffled cries.
Finally, I ask, “Why’d you do it?”
Rhys sighs before scrubbing his hands over his face. “Honestly, I didn’t know it was Lucy. I was drunk and pissed off, and I wanted to hurt you as badly as you hurt me. I thought it was a random woman. Never in a million years would I have thought it would have been her.”
“I know I hurt you. I will never be able to express how sorry I am for that.”
“I know.” His eyes flicker to the papers again. “You really care about her, don’t you?”
“I do.” I don’t elaborate. He doesn’t need to hear me wax poetic on all the ways I’m in love with his ex-girlfriend. He loved her once. He knows.
“Is she really going to press charges?” he asks, eyes glued to the table.
“I don’t know. To be honest, we haven’t spoken all week.”
My mind drifts to last night, thinking about how angry I was when she walked into the restaurant with Cameron. It literally hurt to see her—to see her beautiful face smiling at him, lips painted in a shade she knows I love, dressed to impress another man.
I still haven’t replied to hisyou’re welcometext. Seriously, fuck him and Jules for staging that shit.
Even if it kicked my ass into gear.
I’m ashamed of how I handled Lucy last night—even if we both wanted it. To leave her crying in her apartment after I fucked her was a dick move. But I had to get out of there and continue moving pieces around the board like I had been all week. Otherwise, I would have gotten lost in her.
And I don’t want to wait any longer.
“I could lie and say I’m sorry, but I’m not,” my son mutters.
“But you are sorry for what you did, and that’s what matters.”
“It’s going to… take time… to be okay with this. But I want to be… okay with it.” Rhys’ admission surprises me. “I just… I don’t know how I’m ever going to get there.”
“Take as much time as you need. I’m not going to push you to accept it. I am, however, going to push you to apologize and face whatever consequences are necessary.” I round the table to sit in the chair next to him. “Son, I’ve done you a great disservice all your life. I let your mother get in your head, allowing you to believe that I thought you were a burden, even though I did everything in my power to show you that you weren’t. I assumed you’d see my actions and understand that I didn’t feel that way. But I realize now that I never really said it. Not enough.”
Rhys raises his gaze to meet mine, tears lining his lashes.
“And that is my biggest regret. That I didn’t tell you enough how much I love you. I wouldn’t trade you for the world, Rhys. You’re my son, and I failed you. I can never apologize enough for raising you the way we did. I let the money get to me, thinking that if I could just provide as much as possible, you’d know how much I love you. But I should have been home more. Should have paid you more attention.”
