Page 98 of Doctor I Do

A muscle flicks angrily in my dad’s jaw before he scoffs. “You know exactly what I mean, young lady.”

“I’m dating Alex, that’s not a lie—”

“You two are not engaged?” Mom cuts me off.

“Not really. He asked me, but technically, no,” I confess. I can’t expect the truth from others if I don’t speak the truth. No matter what it costs me.

I shouldn’t have lied, but I wouldn’t be with Alex if I hadn’t, so I can’t say I regret it.

“I’m glad your father is close friends with the jeweler Alex brought the ring from. Imagine if he didn’t tell us that Alex had come in buying the ring but asked about returning it in a few months, or what happens if you divorce. It wasn’t hard to figure out this was set up for your inheritance. But I have to know why you lied?”

That’s how they found out…

“I wanted to get my stake in Emerald Designs,” I admit. Unable to stand anymore, I pull out a dining chair and sit down.

They sit in front of me.

“You’ve wasted so much of your life. You should’ve finished college and listened to us and now you lie. Who are you?” my mom says with a loathing expression before looking away.

My dad’s hands are clasped together as he leans forward and speaks in a cold tone. “We raised you better than this. We gave you the freedom you wanted, even if we didn’t like it. We thought as you grew older, you’d settle down, but it went the other way. You went the other way.”

“I’m sorry,” I plead.

“I can’t believe you would come up with a sick and twisted plan to deceive us.” My dad’s voice drips with disbelief.

“It wasn’t a plan. The will said I need to settle down. So, I made it happen, but I should’ve been more honest about our relationship status. Again, I’m sorry. I really am,” I beg, trying to get them both to understand it wasn’t a disturbing plan, but more of a life raft for me.

“I don’t know what to think.” My mother dabs under her lashes with a tissue.

I hate how I hurt them.

“You will not inherit the business if you don’t marry for love. No daughter of mine will get a business we’ve worked hard for after lying and cheating to get it.”

“Please—” I cry, tears trailing down my cheeks. I feel my future slipping before he says it and my heart shatters.

“No. Tahlia. Your tears will not help. You cannot change the will. Emerald Designs will be sold to an investor, not to you, end of discussion.” My dad rises from his chair and leaves to head upstairs, probably to his office.

I can’t blame him. I just wish I was honest from the start. Now what do I do?

Leaving my parents’ house feels like a blur. I can’t even cry anymore because my body is in such a state of shock.

Alex’s name flashes on my phone screen. For a moment, I just simply stare at it.

I can’t answer it in this taxi. I’m too scared that between the mysterious text I saw and the deal being off, he won’t want to be with me.

Alex: Where are you? Is everything okay?

The backs of my eyes prick with more incoming tears. Why can’t everything stay the way it was? I was so happy, feeling like my life was finally having direction.

Now I have no inheritance.

No direction.

And maybe a relationship over.

What a damn mess.

The look of disappointment in my parents’ eyes killed me. We haven’t had the best relationship, and being with Alex gave it a new life. But now they think the worst of him and me.

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