Page 63 of Entwined
Simone’s voice softened again. “I get it, Joey. I do. But you’re running out of time. Vaughn’s not the kind of man to let thingsgo. If you don’t figure something out soon, he’s going to take matters into his own hands.”
“I know,” I admitted, feeling the weight of the truth settle heavily on my shoulders. “But I’m not ready to face him. Not yet.”
Simone sighed, her frustration tempered with understanding. “Just be careful, okay? Now that he knows, it’s a whole different game. Don’t underestimate him.”
“I won’t,” I said, though I wasn’t entirely sure that was true. Vaughn had already proven that he was willing to fight for what he wanted—and he wasn’t going to let me go without a struggle.
As we ended the call, I sat back on the couch, the silence of the house pressing in around me. I glanced down at my belly, feeling the faint stirrings of life within me.
This was my son. My future. I wouldn’t let Vaughn take that away from me. But deep down, I knew Simone was right. I couldn’t hide put him off forever.
And sooner or later, I was going to have to face Vaughn again.
But not on his terms. Not this time.
Chapter 24
The autumn air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp leaves as I dragged the rake through the yard. It was slow, repetitive work, but the doctor said I needed to stay active, and this was as good a way as any. The baby kicked lightly, a gentle reminder of what was to come.
I was about to gather another pile when the unmistakable sound of tires on gravel sent a jolt through me. I straightened up, my eyes narrowing as the sleek black Mercedes rolled into the driveway. Again.
Vaughn.
I gripped the rake tighter, steeling myself. As he stepped out of the car, I couldn’t help but notice how different he looked. Gone was the business suit. He wore faded jeans and a thick white fisherman’s sweater, the casual look almost disarming. Almost.
“What do you want, Vaughn?” My voice was cold, but I was bracing for whatever he had up his sleeve this time.
He didn’t answer immediately, his gaze traveling over me, pausing at my belly. His brow furrowed. “Should you be doing that? You could hire someone, you know.”
I clenched my jaw, annoyed by the casual way he tried to act concerned. “I’m fine. And you don’t need to worry about me. I don’t need you.”
Without warning, Vaughn closed the distance between us in one swift motion. He grabbed the lapel of my coat and yanked me forward. I collided with his chest, my breath catching from the sudden contact. His arms locked around me, strong and possessive.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Joey,” he murmured, his voice a dangerous whisper against my ear.
I struggled in his grasp, trying to push against his chest, but his hold was unyielding. My heart raced—partly from the proximity, partly from the memories of what we once had. God, it felt good to be in his arms, but I couldn’t let him back in. Not like this. Not after everything.
“Let go, Vaughn,” I said, my voice shaky but determined.
“Pick one,” he repeated, his tone harder now, a challenge in his eyes as they bore into mine.
I shoved against him with all the strength I had left, managing to push out of his hold. I took a step back, breathing hard. “Or what? You’ll make my life miserable? Because, newsflash, you already have. Do you even realize what you did to me?”
His face twisted with something close to regret, but I didn’t let him off the hook. I wasn’t falling for whatever game he was playing now.
“I’ve thought of nothing else for the past six months,” he admitted, his voice low. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear in every gesture. “I was furious when Colson gave you what I thought you didn’t deserve. You deceived him, Joey. You kept the mansion under the pretense that you’d pass it on to his child—the child you no longer had.”
His words cut deep, reopening wounds I had worked so hard to close. The memories of that dark time, the loss, the grief—it all came rushing back. I swallowed hard, but I refused to let him see me break.
“I was protecting your father,” I said, my voice trembling but steady. “I didn’t want to burden him with the knowledge that our baby wouldn’t survive. It wasn’t fair to tell him when he already had so much on his shoulders.”
Vaughn stepped closer, his eyes softer now, less accusing. He reached up and cupped my chin, his fingers warm against my skin. I fought the urge to close my eyes, to lean into his touch like I had so many times before. But I couldn’t. Not anymore.
“You should’ve told him,” he said, his voice softer now, almost pleading. “He was stronger than you gave him credit for, even when he was dying.”
The pain in his words was raw, unguarded. For the first time, I saw past Vaughn’s arrogance, past his walls, and into the heart of a man who had been hurting just as much as I had. But that didn’t change what he’d done. It didn’t erase the manipulation, the lies, the broken promises.
“I did what I thought was best,” I whispered, stepping away from his touch. “And I’m doing what’s best for our son now. Vaughn,you can’t just walk back into my life and expect things to be like they were.”
