Page 137 of My Favorite Secret
“Maybe he wants to apologize.”
“He doesn’t want to apologize. He wants to control me.”
I thought I knew what my dad was capable of. Over these last few days, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect. Perhaps everything Paul said about my father was true. Considering the way Dad has behaved, it wouldn’t surprise me if hedidpromise my hand in marriage for a promotion. He was always pushing me toward Paul and “joking” about marriage.
I sigh, trying to free my mind. Whatever the truth is, I don’t want to hear it. There’s no reconciling our relationship.
“Things will get better with time, Harp. Try to relax and sleep.”
I close my eyes and snuggle into Tyler’s arms. Despite my resentment, his embrace is comforting. I suppose a little part of the Blackwood penthouse does feel like home, being in Tyler’s arms. Now, more than ever, he feels like all I have left in this world.
Tyler is a good person even if he’s made mistakes. I can appreciate he was placed in a difficult position. Everything Tyler has done these last few months has been to protectFelix and me and to nurture my needs. He chose to support me over Felix, which can’t have been easy for him. He’s supported me through every step of my entire life because he’s always been so in love with me.
With that realization, I do feel the resentment start to fade.
My lips find his in the dark and I kiss him softly. It’s the first time we’ve properly kissed since I discovered the truth. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I love you so much. I understand the hard choices you had to make, and I’m sorry for all that you’ve lost.”
His breath shudders as we kiss. He doesn’t say anything in response but I can feel the pain in him.
Tyler holds me close, cherishing me, then tucks me beneath his chin. A stray tear falls down my cheek. It feels like all I’ve done for the last year is cry, and I’m tired of it. So tired of life.
I must be more exhausted than I realize, because the next thing I know, the bedside lamp is on, shining in my eyes, and Tyler is gently shaking me.
“Harper, wake up.”
“What? Why?” I croak, my voice thick with sleep.
“There’s blood.”
My eyes snap wide awake and I sit up, seeing blood between my thighs, on the bedsheets and mattress. Even on Tyler.
“Oh my God, Tyler.” My vision blurs. My lungs are constricting. I can’t get enough oxygen.
“It’s okay, Harper. Breathe.” Tyler strokes my hair. “I’m going to call a doctor. I’ll take good care of you.”
His words barely register with me. All I can think about is the blood.
So much blood.
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
TYLER
The view is incredible. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook Central Park, the kind of apartment people kill for.
I peer out the window, gazing at the morning traffic below. Harper and I are moving in here today, starting the next phase of our life together. This place is supposed to mean something special for us. A step forward. An exciting new chapter.
All I feel is dead inside.
Harper joins me at the window. She slips a small object into my hand and closes my fingers around it. I open my hand, finding my mother’s engagement ring.
“This isn’t me leaving you,” she speaks softly. Her voice is steady, but there’s something fragile beneath it. “Perhaps we’ll get married one day but now isn’t the time. You had the purest intentions when you proposed to me. You’re too good to me, Tyler. But our engagement was brought together by lies and manipulation. We haven’t even told anyone we were getting married. If we do get engaged again in the future, I want it to be purely because we love each other. Not because I’m ashamed of having a childoutside of marriage or because other people forced it upon us.”
She’s right. I know she is.
I squeeze the ring in my fist, the edges biting into my palm. Anger swells in my chest, not at Harper, but at the world. Life keeps ripping precious things away from me. No matter how hard I try to hold on, I feel like I’m constantly drowning.
Harper and I were supposed to bring a baby into the world. The pregnancy wasn’t expected, but I was going to love the child with everything I have and be a good father. That all changed a week ago when Harper started bleeding.
