Page 102 of Secret Triplets for Christmas

"Yes. Mommy says that Santa can see us in his magic snowball. Is that true?" Cassie asked.

"If your mom said so, then it's probably true."

"Okay, girls, we need to get you back to bed. If your mom finds out that I got you up, she won’t be happy."

"But you’re Mommy’s daddy, Grandpa. You're the boss of her," Georgie said.

I laughed, as did Brett on the other end of the line. "I'm not sure I was ever the boss of your mom. Now scoot to bed. I’ll be there in a minute."

"Okay. Bye, Daddy." The girls chimed their goodbyes and blew me kisses. I blew them kisses back and wondered if it was possible to die from heartbreak.

Brett's face appeared on the screen. At first, it was a side view as if he was watching the girls to make sure they were doing what he told them to.

Then he turned to look at me and in his eyes, I saw disappointment and anger. "I don't know what the fuck you think you're doing—"

"How did you even get this number?” I scraped my hand over my face.

"I'm resourceful."

"Did Lindsay put you up to this?"

He let out a humorless laugh. "Lindsay would skin me alive if she knew I was doing this."

It was strange how much that hurt, which was stupid because I was the one who left. I’d told her I couldn’t see her, and she listened, just like she had the last time. Well, maybe she did try to call last time, but clearly, her father had the resources to hunt me down and she hadn’t five years ago.

I shook my head because it didn't matter anymore. In the end, she was right not to tell me. And while I couldn’t imagine not ever having met the girls, I couldn’t deny a part of me wished I didn’t have to endure this never-ending heartache.

"To be honest with you, Oliver, I didn't think much of your brother. I felt like he was using her to get ahead in the world. And I especially didn’t like it when I had to go pick her up at the police station because of him."

I had no response because I couldn’t blame him. Liam cared for Lindsay, but it was true that part of her appeal was that she came from a good family with money. It was one of the reasons I liked that he had fallen for her. I had seen her as his way out. But in the end, all that happened was that she had been dragged down into our toxic lives.

"Now, I can't remember meeting you, except perhaps at some function, so I didn't have any real impression of you, but I can tell you that right now, I think you are the biggest fucking asshole and a coward. Five years ago, you fucked my daughter and then left her pregnant with triplets. And maybe you didn't know about that, but you pulled a wham, bam, thank you, ma’am on her. I wouldn’t have called you either.”

I closed my eyes, wondering how it was possible to feel any worse.

“But the way Lindsay tells it, she wasn’t pissed that you ghosted her. No, she let you go because she wanted you to live your life. Pursue your dreams. But you know what I see? I see a whiny little bitch."

I flinched at the venom in his words.

"I see a man who isn't really a man because a real man wouldn't tell a woman he loves her and then leave her. He wouldn’t get pissed off at not knowing about his kids, have his kids love him, and then abandon them."

My defenses rose, but I had no comeback because he wasn't wrong. I’d done all those things.

"If it's true that there’s still danger out there, then you really are a fucker because now, you've left them all vulnerable."

I swallowed. "They're not in danger if I'm not there."

"That's bullshit because if it were really true that there was a hint of danger, you’d have moved them out of Boston. They'd be much safer there with you in California.”

I blinked because I hadn't even considered that.

"Look, I get that you had a shitty childhood, and I can't imagine what it was like to have lost your brother the way you did. But Son, you have to stop letting the world dictate your life. You need to grab that bull by the horns and take what you want. You can tell me right now that you don’t want my daughter or to be a father to those girls, and I will accept that, and you will find papers on your desk tomorrow morning that you can sign to relinquish your rights. You want to be cut off from them? Let's do it.”

Holy shit. Brett’s words slashed through me. “Why are you doing this?”

“I don’t want to. I’m okay with your being gone because you’ve proven to be unworthy. But I hate seeing how much pain my daughter is in. I hate how often those girls ask when you’ll be back. You’re breaking everyone’s heart here, Oliver, and if it can be fixed, then I’m gonna fix it. Whatever you decide, I expect to know before Christmas. There's no way in the world that I’ll let you ruin those girls’ Christmas. Do you understand?"

I swallowed and nodded.

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