Page 43 of Prove Me Wrong (The Sunburnt Hearts #5)

My teeth grind. “All you’re doing is reminding me of why I cut you out. You can’t control me like this. I hate it. I’ve always hated it. Just leave before I do something worse than break a cup!”

His face tightens before he lets out a pent-up breath and turns to Mum, who is glaring in my direction. “Judith. Let’s go.” His tone is curt and short.

Snarling, Mum drops the glass, shattering against the floor. Stalking through the mess towards me, eyes glacial, mouth pursed, she stops a foot away from me. She’s short but mighty for her size, but I stand my ground.

“You will regret this, Noah,” she seethes like the snake she’s become.

My jaw ticks violently as I shake my head.

“No, I won’t. I don’t want you in my life anymore.

Not since I had Jade, the granddaughter you haven’t even thought about until it meant I could make you happier by having me race.

I don’t want that life, Mum. Can you not see that this is what I want?

To be a dad. To live in this house. To look after my daughter. ”

“But we can help you with that, and it’ll improve your career. You could move into a better house. Find a respectable girl. Not have to rely on a daycare?—”

“No, Mum.” My head shakes again as I stare daggers at her. “That’s what you want, but not me. I want you gone and never to contact me again. Now go before I call the police for having you intrude on my property, that I bought on my own with money from the mechanics I work for.”

Her wrinkled face scrunches before taking her bag from the disorganised bench.

Grabbing the back of Dad’s wheelchair, she turns him around, silently heading towards the front door.

My head turns, hand holding the back of Jade’s head.

I kiss her forehead, trying to soothe her as she bawls into my neck.

I hate frightening her, but I hated seeing my parents here even more.

I hear the squeak of Dad’s wheelchair moving before the door bangs open and shut. Letting out a breath, I get Jade to stop crying, hugging her tightly and telling her that she’ll be all right, before moving to the window in the living room.

Peering out, I watch Mum help Dad into the passenger seat of their car, before closing the door. Her eyes lift to mine. There’s a silent plea in them for me to change my mind. To let them back into my life to puppet it like they’ve always wanted, but I shake my head.

I watch them drive away, out of sight. I kiss Jade’s temple before taking my keys, locking my house, and rushing over to June’s.

Mia’s car is still in the driveway, but the boot is up.

The hairs raise on the back of my neck when I see her coming down the stairs.

Silver eyes brimmed with tears glimpse mine before she looks away, rushing to her car.

“Grey—”

“Don’t,” she grits out, an iciness covering her that I haven’t heard since I first met her. The walls have been replaced and are thicker this time. Reinforced to keep herself protected. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

My pulse skitters as I move in front of her, blocking her path to the car. She tries side-stepping before giving up, avoiding my gaze. “Mia, just listen to me for a minute.” My voice sounds as desperate as I feel inside. I can’t lose her.

“There’s nothing else you need to say, Noah.” Her tone is sharp. I hate it, the feeling like knives slashing at my skin. “I know what you had planned.”

“Mia.”

I reach out, touching her arm. She flinches, cutting me right to my core. Mum must have said something to her. Hurting her so deeply that now she can’t even stand to look at me. Chest heaving, I try to control my breathing as Jade reaches out for her.

Mia’s chin rises, flicking my daughter a sad smile that trembles before shaking her head. “I need to go.”

“Why?” My voice cracks on that one word.

She tries moving around me when I stop her again.

“Because you’ve hurt me, Noah. I opened myself up to you after years of keeping myself safe.

I was falling for you. Actually thinking that you love me.

But you don’t lie to the people you love,” she rasps out, like this is just as painful for her as it is for me.

My head shakes, trying to figure out what’s going on when she gets around me.

Slotting her bags in the back, she slams the boot shut.

“I didn’t do anything, Mia. Please, you have to believe me.

This was my mum’s plan. Not mine." My voice is rising, trying to plead with her to stay, but I can see the agony in her face.

The one that can hardly look at me. “Please, Grey.”

“Just let me go.” Her gaze finally meets mine, and it crushes me. She thinks I don’t want her. That I’ve lied to her and pushed her away. That this was what I had planned all along when I had nothing to do with it. “Please.”

“Mia—”

“No.” Her voice is hoarse as she walks to the driver’s seat and pauses with her hand on the handle. “When I met you, I thought you were different. That you’d finally seen that I’m worth something. But I think Ryan was right in saying that I’ll never be good enough for anyone,” she croaks out .

“Mia!” I shout but she’s already in the car. My feet feel like they’re glued to the ground. I try moving, but she’s already thrown the car into reverse, pulling out of the driveway. “Wait!”

Her tear-stained eyes find mine through the window before she drives off, leaving me alone in the driveway with Jade sobbing on my hip.

The breeze settles, air thinning around me as I watch her leave, not knowing if she’ll come back.

I feel cold, like her presence kept me heated.

And now there’s nothing warm in the atmosphere.

Throat burning, I feel my world tilting again as I hang my head, eyes brimming with unshed tears. She just tore out my heart and drove away with it.