Page 161 of If You Claim Me

Cuddled me.

Fucked me.

Brought my fantasies to life. He made me believe in the possibility that I could have a family. That I could be loved.

And I’m angry that he’s so cavalier. Just taking it all away—from me and from himself.

He’s twisting our time together into something with too many sharp edges, erasing all the good parts of him like they never existed.

His jaw clenches, and he grips the arms of his chair.

I wait for him to own some part of his truth.

But instead he slices my heart in two.

“I don’t want you here.”

CHAPTER 45

CONNOR

Ican’t handle the hurt in her voice or the sting of my own feelings. Mildred has no idea about the shitstorm that’s about to hit my family, or her, because she carries the Grace name. I wish I could give her a piece of the truth, but what good would that do either of us? This isn’t a life she wants. I’m not the person she should be tied to.

The silence that stretches between us is agonizing, but her next words tear my soul apart.

“I thought you were better than your father.” Her voice cracks with emotion. “You’re not a better liar, but you’re just as cruel.”

I lift my head at the last part.

Any of the softness I’ve come to love has disappeared. I ruin beautiful things, as evidenced by what I’m doing to her, to me, to what she means to me.

Her cold gaze meets mine. “I pity you.”

“You shouldn’t.” I don’t deserve anything but her wrath.

She turns around and walks out.

It takes every ounce of restraint not to run across to her bedroom and tell her she has to stay. That she can’t leave. She has an obligation to fulfill.

But hasn’t she already done that?

She mended Meems’s heart, gave her something to keep fighting for. And for that I’m eternally grateful, so forcing her to stay to incur more of my vitriol seems like a torment she doesn’t need. And I already hate myself enough right now.

Half an hour later, there’s movement in the hall. I do us both a favor and stay where I am.

Eventually Cedrick appears in the doorway, his expression stricken. “Mrs. Grace has taken her personal effects and is preparing to leave the manor.”

My stomach feels as though it’s trying to turn itself inside out. I nod.

“If I may be so bold, maybe you would try to talk to her and request that she stay?”

“She should be able to leave if she wants to.”

He stands there for a long moment before he clears his throat. “Madame Grace is speaking with her now. She’s asked that you come down.”

I thought I would have time to prepare for this. Might as well rip every Band-Aid off and let all the wounds bleed at the same time. “I’ll be down shortly.”

He leaves me alone.