Page 50 of Come Here and Kiss Me

As the group leaves, my father takes his place in front of me, looking me in the eye. “Why am I hearing this from everyone but you, Ronan?”

“I was waiting for her ring.”

“Not your mother’s ring, I hope.”His words sting, and I’m grateful Brooklyn didn’t overhear him.

“We’re going ring shopping soon.”

My father eyes me skeptically and takes a sip from the whiskey glass in his hand.

“So you’re not actually engaged?” he adds. “Both of us know you were always better alone. Seeing you … like this?—”

“I asked her to marry me, and she said yes,” I adamantly reassure. “Get used to the idea, Father.”

Meaning every last word,I down my whiskey and leave him to wait for Brooklyn so we can get the hell out of here. We did what we came to do, and now we wait for what’s next.

CHAPTER18

Brooklyn

Another week flies by with no new articles apart from a small mention in theGala Times. Nothing negative and I’m grateful for that. This morning, though, I can’t believe what I’m seeing in front of my eyes. There’s an email from my father, and I read it from the beginning for the third time.

Brooklyn,

The fact of the matter is that you've always been a huge disappointment to me, and you marrying Professor Wolf is just another thing I can add to my neverending list. But I’m going to keep this short and sweet. I’m disowning you. You think you can cross me and get away with it by spending my hard-earned money?

Think again.

I’ve given you everything.

EVERYTHING.

Now, you’re as dead to me as your mother.

Sincerely, Dean Chambers

It’s been almost two months, and I just don’t understand why he won’t let this go, and why he continues this… this… I don’t even know what it is. He’s already cut me off financially. It’s like he just wanted one more stab at hurting me.

Like what triggered this? It makes no sense.

I shouldn’t be upset. I know I shouldn’t. It doesn’t matter. He doesn’t matter. However, my mind can pretend all it wants. My heart, though…

Is broken.

Tears escape, and I can’t stop them. Somewhere deep down inside, I thought he might forgive me. That we could go back to at least being father and daughter. So I could have someone.

Now, I have no one. Once this charade is over with Ronan, I’m alone. I mean, of course I still have Aspen. She truly is my best friend. And Chloe messaged me after the event and wants to meet. We do have our close group of friends, and I do care for them.

But family? I literally have no one.

And what does that mean for my trust? Oh my God, is he doing this because of the lawyers? If he does this, do I inherit nothing?

My heart races, and fear grips me like it did in that café.

It’s the first time in my life I feel truly desolate.The realization that this moment—this fantasy with Ronan—can’t last forever.

And then I will have no one and nothing.

I have no skills, assets, or experience. I have nothing on my résumé. I don’t even have one.

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