Page 102 of The Fiancé Hoax

Lily blinked her long lashes up at me. “We miss playing with her.”

“I know, Lily. I’m sorry.”

I ran my hand over her head, smoothing her blonde hair.

“Why don't you two see if Inga can play with you outside in the backyard? I'm going to get some work done, and then we'll have dinner together. Deal?”

“Deal!” Eva said. Lily nodded, but she was disappointed. They ran out of the room, calling for Inga.

I slumped in my office chair. Tension mounted in my gut.

Marsh’s angry face appeared in my mind’s eye, his words haunting me.

If you really loved Felicity, you would give her freedom to live her life on her own terms. You just want to tie her down.

Fuck.

He was right.

Her business was starting to take off. I’d helped her with Moonstone just as I’d promised. And she had almost completed her end of the deal by pretending to be engaged the past few months.

In two weeks, she’d go to the custody trial at my side. After Judge Graves’ decision, her part of the deal would be over.

I couldn’t expect any more from her. Asking her to stay with me and be my girlfriend would complicate her life. It would mean she’d be tied down to a guy in a different stage of life.

It could mean she might become a maternal figure to my daughters—permanently. She’d have to take on a lot of responsibility.

Felicity deserved a big white wedding. Judging by the way her face lit up whenever the topic was mentioned, that was what she wanted.

She’d probably want kids, too. Though she’d said she was on the fence about becoming a mother, I saw how she acted around my girls. She would want children of her own when the time was right.

And I couldn’t give her what she wanted. Ever.

After Gen, I just couldn’t take the risk. I couldn’t trust myself enough to commit to someone long-term. And I couldn’t have more kids just to worry about them being ripped away from me.

She would never be satisfied with what I could offer her. And she shouldn’t have to settle.

I couldn’t ask that of Felicity. I couldn’t let her put her life on hold for me and my daughters.

I couldn’t bear to watch her grow to resent me over the years because I was a chickenshit. Because I was afraid of commitment after my divorce.

No matter how much I loved Felicity, I couldn’t ask her to stay.

I loved her too much to let her make that decision.

Didn't they say if you love someone, set them free?

I loved Felicity more than I'd loved any other woman. More than I thought possible.

I had to set her free.

25

FELICITY

The interview in LA Now changed everything.

The article was published three days after my dad found out about Cooper and me. And the very next morning, there were people lined up to get into Moonstone Boutique when I arrived to open the store.

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