Page 25 of The Fiancé Hoax

“Yes. I snuck into the party.”

“Damn it, Felicity. These events are strictly for my business associates and clients.”

“I know, Dad. And I'm really sorry I did that. It's just, I was desperate—”

“Your mother and I raised you better than this. What the hell were you thinking? Sneaking into an invitation-only event? These parties aren't for me to have a good time and drink champagne. The point is to network and secure my business ties.”

“I know, Dad. I know how important your law firm is to you. That's why I wish you could understand why my boutique is important to me.”

He snorted. “So that's why you snuck in? I should have known. Felicity, you can't go around my back soliciting my clients to bail out your failing business.”

A lump pressed against my throat. “A lot of businesses struggle their first few years. It doesn't mean I should give up on my dreams.”

He snorted. “If your dreams are based on nothing more substantial than cotton candy and clouds, then maybe you should give up on them.”

Tears threatened to spill from my eyes. But I wouldn't let myself cry on the phone with my father. He would just see it as another weakness of mine.

He was so fixated on making me fend for myself that he couldn't understand how much he was hurting me.

“Felicity, I've told you over and over. Fashion design is not a reasonable career path. It's nearly impossible to make a name for yourself in that industry. And you're combining design with retail. Which you know nothing about, by the way. That boutique of yours was doomed to fail from the beginning.”

“I know your opinion about it, Dad.” It took everything I had to keep my voice from breaking.

“And you know I warned you not to ask any of my investor friends for help. But that's exactly what you tried to do last night, isn't it?”

I clamped my eyes shut. I had to get off the phone before I broke down.

“I'm sorry, Dad. It won't happen again.” I paused. “I need to run now. Can we talk later?”

“Fine. Talk to you later.”

The call ended with a click before I could say goodbye. I tossed my phone on the bed and then collapsed onto the comforter beside it.

My chest ached. Why did he have to talk to me like that? Would it kill him to believe in me for once?

I let a few tears fall then I dried my eyes and forced myself to get out of bed. I knew my dad loved me. He just had a funny way of showing it.

And maybe if I could save Moonstone Boutique, I could show him that my dreams meant something.

I headed toward my desk and gathered all the paperwork and drawing supplies. My mind raced with a dozen worries.

Could Cooper really save my business? What if my father was right? What if this boutique was a pipe dream all along?

Despite my nerves, a smile crept over my face.

I could hardly believe I’d be moving in with Cooper Pierce. Living under the same roof as that Adonis was thrilling enough. But I was excited to spend time with his daughters, too.

It was surprising because I’d never been crazy about kids. Still, I found myself thinking about Eva and Lily a lot.

In fact...

I sat down at my desk and started sketching a jumpsuit for Eva and a dress for Lily. I smiled as my pencil moved across the paper. They would look so cute in these designs.

I reached for my brightest-colored markers, filling in the outfits with bold color. I could imagine Eva playing on the playground in the jumpsuit and Lily dancing around in the little dress.

I looked at the rough drafts. Not bad. Now, about those winter coats...

Grabbing a fresh sheet of paper, I furiously blocked out designs for children's outerwear.

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