Page 4 of Exquisite Temptation

My mother parts her lips in surprise and exchanges a quick look with my father before settling her hazel eyes on me. Dad cuts a large piece of his enchilada and shoves it into his mouth. Hmm, why are they acting so weird suddenly?

"You are moving to Seattle? Why? What about your boyfriend?" She doesn’t let me answer, continuing, "You aren’t getting younger. It’s time to settle down and start a family, not move to a new city and start from scratch again."

Who is this? And what happened to my mother? Her harsh words grow legs, kicking me hard in my stomach, knocking all breathable air from my body. Of course, I want to settle down with someone who loves me for who I am and not with someone who can’t keep his dick in his pants. I open my mouth to defend myself, but no words come out.

"She is a big girl, Mom. Let her decide when it's the right time for her to start a family," Carter chimes in, saving me from our mom’s overprotectiveness, as usual.

"Thank you, bro. I can always count on you to support me." I stuff my mouth with food and chew furiously to stop myself from exploding.

Shaking her head, she reaches across the table and covers my father’s hand with hers. "John, talk some sense into your daughter."Count to ten,I encourage myself.

Normally, I’m calm and collected, but since Tristan twisted the knife of betrayal deep into my heart, my fuse has become much shorter, and I explode like a homemade bomb.

"So, now I’m his daughter, but not yours." I tilt my head, glaring at her, even though I know how this will end.

First, the flood of tears, and then she will jump to her feet, storming off like a hormonal teenager. Sometimes, I wonder if she subscribes to tears on demand.

"Is this what I deserve for putting the needs of this family above my own? How could you do this to me?" She exhales a sharp breath, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Please, Mom. Not this again. No one has forced you to put our needs above yours. It’s your choice. What do you want me to do? Get you a cross, so you can crucify yourself?" A loud gasp escapes her trembling lips as she stares at me for a moment, silent tears running down her face.

My stomach twists as guilt swirls inside me. "I'm sorry, Mom." Wiping her face, she pushes her chair to get up, but my father stops her.

"Susan, sit down." My father’s ocean blue eyes shift to me. "Heidi, that is enough! Let's eat before the food gets cold," he orders, his ice-cold voice leaving no room for further arguments.

The rest of the dinner passes in an awkward silence, and, after dessert, I make a lame ass excuse about needing to get up early and leave.

The meal sits heavy in my stomach on my way home, bringing waves of nausea. I don’t understand why my mother freaked out about me moving to Seattle when they have always encouraged me to chase my dreams and live my life to the fullest. No point in talking to my mother because she will end up telling me to wait until I have children and see how hard it is not to worry about them, no matter how old they are.

I exhale a deep breath as I plod to my bedroom.Okay, Heidi, time to cut the ties that bind you to Tristan.I stuff my plastic laundry hamper with his clothes, books, and every photo I ever took of us.

Trudging to the backyard, I leave the hamper on the lawn and light up my garden incinerator. I dump his clothes one by one, watching them burn before tearing the photos in half and adding them to the fire. Taking the piece of paper from my jeans, I read the poem out loud.

Ode to you

Who wrapped me gently inside your world of silky lies

and left me to dwell there mindlessly.

Ode to you

Who stole my heart with sweet kisses, decayed promises

Stung me with your venom touch and abandoned me.

I crunch the paper and throw it in with the rest of his stuff, admonishing myself for getting involved with him.There were so many red flags you ignored, all in the name of love and trust.He told me everything I needed to hear, gobbling up his lies like candy.Babe, I don’t love her anymore and will never go back to her. I promise.Now, I have only myself to blame. My mind burns with the memory of seeing them together, making my heart twist in my chest as a war of emotions rages inside me.

Anger. Disappointment. Betrayal. Humiliation. Sadness.

I let the tears slide freely down my cheeks. Gulping down a steadying breath, I pause for a second and blow out all of my emotions in one long exhalation. The blue and orange flames dance and crackle, burning his belongings to ashes. Before I leave for Seattle and start a new chapter in my life, I need to forgive him and myself. Okay, here we go. I let the words tumble out of my mouth.

Punishing myself will not help me move on. I'm only human and not perfect. Mistakes make me learn and grow. I forgive myself for giving my trust and love to someone who didn't deserve it. Tristan, I release you, even if I cannot forgive you.

Chapter 3

Christopher

Three Years Ago

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