Page 69 of Filthy Rich Temptation

He did it out of necessity.

I do it by choice.

And I’ll choose work every time. Work is solid. Work is controllable. Work doesn’t break you. Love does. Mum taught me that.

‘Theo?’

‘Yes.’ I hate the way it croaks out of me. ‘Believe it.’

‘Mind telling me why?’

‘Because look at me! Look at my life!’

I throw a hand around the room – not the most effective gesture when the place is littered with Lottie. But it doesn’t make what I’m saying any less true.

‘You saw how it was with Katie. Living with someone. Sharing my space. Trying to give them what they needed while still giving work whatitneeded. It doesn’t end well. Not for anyone.’

She waves a nonchalant hand. ‘Katie was far too demanding and high-maintenance. The Sadie I remember?—’

‘That’s just it,’ I cut in. ‘The Sadie youremember.She’s not that girl any more. She’s been through hell at the hands of her ex and now she needs stability. A chance to take her life back, on her own terms.’

‘And why can’t that life involve you?’

‘Mum, for the love of God, will you stop?’

She stares at me hard and I stare back.

This isn’t a fight she’s ever going to win.

‘Okay, but at least…’

‘At least what?’

‘At least be open to it, darling. I’d hate for you to spend the rest of your life alone.’

‘Why, when it makes me happy?’

‘Does it? Truly?’

I turn away, an unsteady hand raking through my hair.

‘You have such wealth, Theo. More money than your father and I could ever have dreamed of, and I’m so proud of you. Your father would be proud too. But we’d see you trade it in a heartbeat for the happiness we shared.’

‘Thehappiness?’ I spin to face her. ‘And what about the pain?’

I hate the way she blanches, her green eyes flinching at the direct hit, but…

‘I know what I was like after your father passed,’ she says huskily. ‘And I’m sorry for it.’

‘You don’t need to be sorry.’ I drag a hand down my face. ‘I’msorry. I didn’t say it to make you feel bad. I said it to make you stop.’

‘Is that what holds you back?’ she says quietly. ‘Some deep-seated need to protect yourself from the pain I went through?’

I shake my head. ‘I’m not held back. Itried it with Katie.’

‘But Sadie isn’t Katie.’

No, she isn’t. And that’s the real problem. Because if I were to let Sadie in, there’d be no coming back from that. And the pain if I lost her… truly lost her…