Page 115 of Rival Hearts

When I got into the car, I realized I hadn’t even told him about the baby. But that was fine—I would raise the child by myself. I didn’t need Alex.

I didn’t need anyone. I’d come this far alone, and I could keep going the way I was. I’d rather raise a baby the right way than have someone like Alex in their life who only cared about money. I knew how much that had hurt me, and I wouldn’t let Alex hurt our child.

Even if my heart was breaking into a million pieces and walking away from Alex was the hardest thing I’d ever done.

32

ALEX

“What’s up with you?” Daniel asked.

He was in town for a short while—he was always coming and going—and he’d popped in to say hi before he was headed out again.

Although he was always away, Daniel never made it seem like he didn’t want to be around and be a part of the family.

“Nothing.”

Daniel raised his eyebrows. “Doesn’t look like it’s nothing. You’re in the worst mood I’ve ever seen you, and that’s saying something.”

Okay, so I could be moody sometimes. When I felt something, I felt ithard, and this was no different.

I shrugged. “It’s been a shit week, there’s nothing to say.”

Daniel sat down in the armchair he’d just evacuated, ready to head out again. He crossed his ankle over his knee, made himself comfortable with his hands on the armrests and stared me down.

He wasn’t going anywhere until I talked to him.

Damn it, I loved my brothers, but sometimes they irritated the shit out of me. Especially when I wanted to wallow in self-pity or stew in my anger alone.

“It’s just been rough with work. There’s been a hiccup with the investors, and I decided to cancel the eco-line I wanted to do.”

“Why?”

“They’re threatening to pull out, and I—we can’t afford that.”

I explained to Daniel what Sasha and Henry had said.

“They’re two of our biggest assets,” I finished. “I can’t just lose them over an impulsive decision.”

“Was it impulsive?”

“It wasn’t something I considered for a long time, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Yeah, but you’re not someone who does something without thinking it through. A lot. So it doesn’t seem right for you to say it wasimpulsiveper se.”

“Well, whatever the word is, I can’t make that choice if it’s going to negatively affect the company. That’s my first priority—the company and where we’re headed—no matter how serious I get in my personal life.”

“You’re talking about Charlotte, aren’t you?” The question was rhetorical.

I sighed and sat back in my chair, swiveling it toward the window that looked out over the ocean. I would never get tired of looking at the ocean—it was never the same. It always changed, and it seemed to have moods, too. Some days it was calm and inviting, and some days it was stormy and dangerous. Life was a lot like that.

Although, these days it felt like life was stormier and more dangerous than anything else. But maybe I was just being dramatic.

“What happened?” Daniel asked.

“I wanted to do the line for her,” I admitted. “It was the right thing to do at the time. But it’s not that simple—I can’t just jeopardize the company, and I have to do what’s right for the business, you know.”

“Did you tell her you’re pulling the line?”