Page 16 of Bound By Love

My father stood contemplative with his hand on his jaw. Did I actually need to be here for this? It wasn’t like I’d listen to anything he had to say. The man liked to hear himself speak, so I was sure his speech would be monotonous and long-winded as fuck.

“I know we haven’t always been close,” he stated in an almost-caring tone. It caught me off guard, and he was wrong. We wereneverclose. “Regardless of what you might think, I love you.” He turned to face me. “Son, you look like hell.” He surveyed the room. “I’m concerned.”

An unexpected tightness in my chest occurred, but I fought it. I couldn’t give in to my emotions. Now was not the time to be weak. I had to hold myself together.

“Miranda left me.”

“Yes, you already said she was gone. Why?”

“Because I went to Vegas with another woman.” I stared him in the eye. Shock and disappointment blanketed my father’s face.

“I thought Miranda went with you to Vegas?”

I shook my head, lowering my gaze to his highly polished Tom Ford leather shoes. I felt so ashamed and guilty, and I hated it. I didn’t fucking do this, yet I was paying the price in immeasurable ways.

“I don’t understand. Another woman?” he said with so much disdain in his voice I winced.

I nodded, unable to verbally confirm, as it would be a lie. It killed me, not telling my father the affair was a farce to save SJI and its investors’ money.

He sat on the club chair, pensive and deflated. I’d never felt more like a royal fuckup than I did at this moment.

Silence inundated the room while Miranda commanded my thoughts. How I devastated her. Lied to her. Broke her.

The most vital lesson I learned growing up in my parents’ mansion was that the character of a St. James man was to be held to the highest standards above all else. We were to protect the name for all St. James men to follow.

Regardless of what the truth was, I felt like I’d shamed my parents, my grandparents, and future generations.

For as long as I could remember, I had watched my father and grandfather treat their wives like priceless porcelain dolls. I had tried to do the same with Miranda, even after Sayton knocked on my office door and waged war on SJI.

But Lily had it right; Vegas was the final straw that broke Miranda. I’d been fucking stupid to believe she’d be here waiting for me to return.

“Call her and apologize. Beg her to forgive you,” my father finally said. The grief on his face sucked the air out of my lungs. My father never showed emotion. But I knew my parents adored Miranda. “Unless you don’t love her.”

My eyes drifted to the little blue box on the coffee table. In it sat my hopes and dreams of a future with my beauty. My father followed my line of vision and picked up the box, lifting the lid to reveal the ring.

“Your mother would approve.” A small, almost unnoticeable curl in the corner of his mouth appeared for a split second. Seeing it pained me under these circumstances. “Is this for Miranda or the new woman in your life?”

His preposterous question set my insides afire. The mere suggestion that it could be for anyone other than Miranda infuriated me. “How dare you ask me that!” I growled, flying off the sofa.

“Well, I wasn’t sure.” He shrugged unapologetically. “So if it’s for Miranda and yousupposedlylove her, why Vegas with another woman?” He arched a suspicious brow.

I ground my teeth, furious that I couldn’t tell him the truth. “Let me be clear. I have always loved Miranda and always will. Period. End.” I walked back to the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of beer I wanted earlier, twisted the cap, and guzzled until satisfied.

“How can I help you?” he hollered. “Want me to go to her office? Ask her to show you mercy? I’d grovel for you.” He winked as I cut my gaze to his. Somehow, I believed him. This outpouring of compassion could only be just a fleeting moment.

“She’s not at her office… She’s really gone. Like, dropped-off-the-face-of-the-earth gone. I don’t understand it. Naturally, she’s hurt and angry, but leaving everything? Even her business? It’s uncharacteristic of her.”

“Yes, yes…” He lowered his brows as he often did when he processed a situation. “That doesn’t sound like Miranda at all. She loves her job, made a name for herself in L.A. And you think she moved away?”

“Yes, or so that’s what it sounded like when I talked to Lily.”

“Hmm.” There was that pensive look again. “Let me do a little digging and see what I can find out.” He stood, shooting me a pointed look. I was grateful for his offer but ready for him to leave. “Take the rest of the week off to pull yourself together. I expect to see you in the office Monday. Understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

After my father left, I took a long shower—my first since Tuesday evening. Everything in the house felt different. I never realized until now how much Miranda’s sparkle for life made mine brighter.

My life would be shit without her.

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