Page 67 of The Biggest Secret
“Oh, great.”
Hearing my sister grumble, I look up from watching Dom teeter down the sidewalk and see Grace coming toward us. She’s got a superior look on her and I’m already bracing myself for the vile she’s about to spew.
“I’m surprised you’re still in town, Chelsea.” She looks at her watch. “This must be a record or something!”
Rolling my eyes, I try to ignore her nasty look and walk around her.
She blocks my way, jutting her hip out and folds her arms across her chest. “Just because you have his baby doesn’t mean he’s going to stay with you. You’ve left him too many times for him to commit without fear of being burned by you again.”
“And what would you know about what he’s afraid of?” I snap back. I shouldn’t engage with her, but my patience is at an all-time low.
“We talk, Chelsea. He tells me everything. We met up last night at the bar, and he told me you were fighting. I don’t know why you don’t understand this.” She narrows her eyes. “He doesn’t want you.”
This is exactly what she did to me years ago. Placed doubt in my mind, forced me to make rash decisions, live in fear of my past and fall prey to her scheme. I know they don’t speak. Billy has confirmed it for me, and I believed Adam when he told me he cut her off and was ignoring her messages until she finally got the hint.
But her words hit the mark and they fucking hurt.
And in this moment, I know I can’t live like this anymore. Not with the fear of running into her, not with her taunting me. I need to put a stop to it.
She tries again. “He’s only tolerating you for that baby. How does it feel to still be runner up?”
My sister butts in. “When did you become such a bitch? He was only with you because she left.”
Grace pops her gum and puts her hands on her hips, answering my sister but never taking her eyes off mine. “Then she can stay and watch me take him. Right. In. Front. Of. Her. This. Time.”
My body locks up tight with anxiety and I try to ignore the way her words hit me like bullets, I want to diffuse this situation. I want out. I want to run. “I think you made your relationship more than it was. It was one sided, Grace. Yours, not his.”
She laughs a bitter laugh. “You were just the placeholder, Chelsea, still are,” she nods to Dominic. “That brat isn’t going to make him stay.” She spits the words and turns to walk to her car.
“Fine, if you don’t want me, go to her. But your kids? How are you just going to walk away from them?”
“I’m not happy. Molly. You can’t make me stay, neither can those kids.”
I stand frozen in my flashback until my sister speaks. “Come on, CJ, don’t listen to her. She’s a bitter woman who isn’t living in reality. Let’s just go home.” She tries to pull my arm, but I stand firm.
No. More.
She’s slammed Dominic one too many times and I’m not taking it anymore. It’s time I stand up to her. Stand up for my relationship, myself and my son.
“Grace.”
She turns with a self-righteous look on her face. I step closer, rear my hand back and slap her.
She gasps and holds her face. “You just! You! Oh, my God, you just assaulted me!”
“Stay away from me. Keep my son’s name out of your mouth or I’ll do more than that. I’m done with your bullshit, Grace.”
Adley stifles laughter and is herding Dominic away from the scene I just caused. Grace stands frozen in shock, eyes wide, as I turn away and calmly walk to the car.
When I get into the driver’s seat, I shut the door and can feel my sister vibrating next to me. “That was fucking epic, sis! Holy shit! I’m writing you in as the heroine in my next book!” My sister is bursting in her seat.
I shake my head at her words, my mind spinning. I can’t believe I just hit her. I need to get myself under control. We drive back to the house and my mind wanders the whole ride. I will not let that woman affect me again and rob me of my second chance.
But Adam is already doing that. Am I wrong? Am I not thinking clearly, still under the illusion that he’s abandoned us for his job? I heard Adley loud and clear earlier. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control.
“I’m going to drop you and Dom off. Can you keep an eye on him for a few minutes? I need to go see Adam.”
Chapter Forty
