Page 74 of Come Here and Kiss Me

“It must be quite a surprise that there’ll be a consequence this time,” I remark, keeping my expression neutral.How I’m able to keep my tone even and cool, I have no idea.

He huffs a humorless laugh and then sneers, “The only one who deserves consequence is that little shit you opened your legs for. Ronan screwed me over, and I’ll never?—”

I speak up, finding my voice more solid than I could have ever imagined.The lawyers speak over us, mine leaning in front of me as if I might stand. I’m not moving, but I refuse to be silent while he berates me.

“I don’t give a shit. You used me. You used every fucking person you could. He could screw you over ten times more, and I’d?—”

“You have no allegiance to anyone but yourself. You deserved to be punished for spreading your legs to a fucking Wolf. Selfish just like your whore of a mother. I never deserved to be stuck with a child like you.”

At that comment, I stand, the legs of the chair screeching across the floor as I do. “You expect pity? After what you did? Fuck you.”

Our lawyers attempt to silence us, to contain the conversation as we stand across from each other. I hate that I gave him any emotion at all. But at least I can live knowing I’ve said my piece.

“Enough!” my lawyer finally screams, and the room goes silent apart from heavy breathing. “I think it’s best you and your client leave.”

“Fuck you,” my father snarls, and to my surprise, he tells his own lawyer off as well.

My father shoves his lawyer as he attempts to guide my prick of a parent out of the room. The door opens, and he’s almost gone, almost out of my life.

Before he can leave, I tell him, “You’re right about one thing…”

My father turns around to look me dead in my eyes.

“You never did deserve me.”

With one last glare, the door closes, and I pray it’s the last time I have to see him. I never want to even think of his face again.

I swallow thickly and grab the glass of water in front of me, eagerly drinking it and attempting to calm my racing heart.

“I apologize, Miss Chambers.I was assured your father wanted to end this suit before it began. Had I known?—”

I stop Anderson and end his misery. “You don’t know him like I do.” I set the glass down as calmly as I can. “You couldn’t have known, and I don’t care either way.”

“Still, I should have taken—” He attempts another apology, but that’s not what I want in the least.

“I want to press every charge and file every suit,” I tell him with finality.The second I discovered what happened, I demanded it. Apparently, there are steps in place. You can’t simply hit a button and have to try to be “civil” first. But there’s no civility in the life my father leads.

The legs of the chair beside me drag on the floor with a groan, and my lawyer takes the seat and adjusts his tie.

“Miss Chambers… may I?”

“Of course,” I answer, taken aback and unsure where this conversation is going.

“Have you discussed your decision with Mr. Wolf? Ronan, I, um… to be clear. Not the other defendant in your case.”

My throat goes tight with emotion. The first disturbance to what I’ve been feeling all day. A raw ache that reminds me of a different kind of pain. “I have not.”

“It may be best,” he suggests quietly.

I don’t know how to tell him that I don’t think I can. Especially when I know I’ll have to. In order to proceed, I’ll have to see him.We’re two broken people brought into this world with more than we deserved, yet at the same time, lacking the one thing that mattered.

It all feels like it’s just too late. Once you’re aware of how deeply damaged you are, there’s just no way to fix that. Especially not with the person who showed you so clearly that they saw and they were willing to let you go.

Tears prick at the back of my eyes, and I hate how much it hurts. My lawyer hands me a tissue, and I accept, attempting to prevent the tears from falling.

“The sooner, the better,” he tells me quietly. “I believe you’ll need to unblock his number,” he adds, and when I look at him, he cocks a knowing brow.

So he can see, I unblock his number in front of him.

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