Page 83 of Scandalous Contract
I stepped forward now, the pepper spray still in my hand.
“AndmyIndia thinks you’re this amazing guy because I never told her the truth. I never told her thatyou, just weeks after her father died, suggested I consider putting her up for adoption.”
His face paled. “That was only because...”
“Don’t,” I snapped. “Don’t finish that sentence. Everything you do is for yourself. So spare me the speech about all the favors and good deeds. You’ve never done a damn thing for anyone unless it benefited you in the end. Now move. I want to be away from this place, away from you.”
Hurt flashed in his eyes. But the look quickly turned to anger and wounded pride.
“What if I don’t?” he asked.
I raised the bottle of pepper spray, finger hovering over the trigger. His eyes widened.
“If you have to explain to the cops why your eyes are burning, rumors will start about us. Some may even say you hurt me, so I had to defend myself. You and I both know your dad would hate that, and you always do what Daddy asks of you. Right?”
His nostrils flared. “When did you become such a bitch?”
I smiled. “I’ve always been one. You were just too much of a bigger bitch to notice.”
He stepped forward.
I shook the bottle. “One push and your entire career’s ruined because I will make sure the police know I felt threatened for my life.”
He clenched his jaw so hard I thought his teeth might crack.
“You know your husband was planning on leaving you before he had his accident, don’t you?” Hudson drawled, twisting the knife that had been permanently embedded in my heart for seventeen years.
My entire body trembled as I tried to keep myself from falling apart.
“He left, Stefanie. I didn’t. I bought diapers, formula, and toys for India when you were going through a rough patch before the insurance was finally paid out. Even my parents give her presents every year for Christmas. My mother was so proud of her for graduating early and getting into the nursing program. My family has been there for you because they know how I feel about you. Seventeen years,” he whispered. “For seventeen years, I’ve waited. And there was a period when I thought it was finally our time to be together. But you ended it as quickly as it began with some bullshit excuse that we just weren’t a good match. Do you really think I’m going to let you go after wanting you for seventeen fucking years?” he yelled.
“You’ve been in serious relationships over the years. You could’ve married any of those women and...”
“How could I marry anyone when my heart belonged to the girl who showed up here years ago looking ready to take on the world? You were so young, so beautiful. And I made up my mind then and there that I needed to be with you. You and India are a part of my life. We have a history. I can’t let you go. Iwon’tlet you go.”
With that said, he turned, unlocked the door, and walked out without another word. I stood there, still holding the spray, my chest heaving. Tears stung my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. This place used to feel like my second home.
Hudson used to be a friend I trusted, his family a rock that helped me through a tough time. But now, this place felt like a cage. And Hudson made me feel like I owed him and his family a debt I could never repay.
Him and this place were a reminder of everything I’d endured. Of every wrong choice I’d made that I was still carrying the guilt and shame for. I couldn’t wait to walk out those doors for good. I was beyond done with this place and with him.
And I was done carrying the guilt and shame of my past!
