Page 51 of The Forbidden Bride He Stole

“Hopefully it won’t. But if it does, I want you to take care of her. When the time is right, you can explain. Because when she’s old enough, Marcy is going to tell her.”

“She doesn’t have to. She’s made it out. She’s done well. There’s no reason—”

“There is. You know why. Because she needs to be able to protect herself. From the people that would take advantage of her. You want the ones you love to learn from your mistakes.”

“I met your father at an event six years or so after our company became very successful. And around the time of Cameron’s accident. We met because I had struck up a conversation with your mother. She and I... We recognized each other. Because we had both, at different times, seen each other at events where we were the paid companions of the ones we were with. You know your own kind.”

“What?” Hannah sat up, clutching the blanket to her chest. “Are you saying that my mother...”

“Your mother was an escort. For some years before meeting your father. Your father never paid for her services. They met, and fell in love. He didn’t care what she had done in the past. And she loved him enough to let go of everything. She loved him enough to let go of any of the pain she might’ve still felt about it. She loved him enough to let herself be free. Maybe she loved herself enough. But we... We had a bit of a bond. I suppose. Instantly. And your father was so afraid that I was going to judge her, when he realized that I recognized her that... Finding out the truth about me always made him feel like your mother was safer. Having me around. He wanted that for you too. He wanted me to keep you safe because he felt like I understood the way the world works. That I could protect you from the reality of it.”

“I can’t... I can’t believe that.”

“Are you angry?”

“Yes,” she said. “Because... Because my mother is dead and I never got to know this about her. Because we never got to talk about it. Because I didn’t really know how they met. Because I didn’t really... I never knew them. I never knew them, and they never knew me. I’m just... I’m angry about it. I don’t understand why they had to go off and go canoeing in a river in Africa instead of... Instead of being home with me. We could’ve been the ones having this conversation and... If we only would have had more time.”

“You wouldn’t have been left with me.”

“No. Maybe you wouldn’t have been my guardian. Or maybe you and I would’ve gotten to know each other and it would’ve been normal.”

“I would never have made friends with you. Because I don’t make friends easily.” He paused. “I traded in my chance for normal. It was not the death of your parents that created a strange situation for me. Whatever you believe, believe that.”

“Well, it is what created one for me. I just... I hate this. I want to talk to her about it. I want to ask her why. And you don’t know why, do you?”

“No,” he said. “But I can tell you that I do know your mother was a wonderful person. Lovely and caring, and always kind to me. She never acted like I was bringing old pain to her doorstep. And she could have. She allowed me to have a friendship with your father. And no, you can’t know why. Except I can tell you the reasons are probably similar to mine. When you have no control in your life you make strange bargains. You do whatever you can to try and make something work for yourself. And you tell yourself you’re going to get out, but I will tell you, your mother and I are exceptions. Because it is so hard to be done with that. With the money that it gives you.”

“My mother married a rich man. I guess that’s an easy way to get out.”

He shook his head. “Your mother fell in love. There is nothing easy about that. There is nothing easy about that when you have spent years searing your conscience and your soul. Trust me. Because I don’t know how to love. I don’t know how to put all the pieces of myself back together that I pulled apart so that I could find it in myself to figure out how to play those games. Your mother did the infinitely powerful and impossible task of surrendering her heart to another human being. Don’t downplay it.”

“I’m sorry. I just... I’m not upset about her past. I’m just... I’m angry at the universe, aren’t I? Because plenty of people travel and leave their kids sometimes, but they don’t all die on what should have been a lovely excursion. I’ve been in this place where I’ve been just blaming them. And being mad. Because I don’t feel like they spent enough time with me. But the truth is, there would never have been enough time. And you are right. Time would’ve given us a different relationship. It would’ve given us more. And we didn’t have that chance. And it’s not fair. But it is. Same as I feel like I’m treading water. And I’m so tired. I’m searching and searching for something around me to hold on to. And it was never them. Because as much as I love them, it was never them.”

“It is not me,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

“It never really should have been your responsibility to be.”

“I think we are past responsibility, are we not?”

She shook her head. “I suppose.”

“It is them that made you so angry these past few months? That caused you to rebel?”

“No,” she said. “It was you. It just opened the door to allow me to be a bit bitter at them.”

“Why me?”

She laughed, and rolled onto her back. He looked at her, at her gorgeous form and the smile on her face. “I wanted you. I... I cared about you. And I knew that until I dealt with that I was never going to be able to move on with my life.”

“What does moving on look like to you?”

“This, I suppose. Minus the technically being married thing. Being financially independent. Running the company... I have to actually go and do that tomorrow.”

“I’ll be with you,” he said.

“Yes, but that wasn’t the idea.”

“Was sleeping with me the idea?” he asked.

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