Page 174 of Scandalous Contract

“I’ll go out,” I whispered.

“You sure?” he asked.

“I can’t keep hiding. I was wrong to hide in the first place.”

“Okay.” He turned back to Julian. “Don’t disturb my neighbors. And if she asks you to leave, you’ve got five minutes to vacate my property before I start shooting. I can get gangsta too.”

With that said, Ronnie stepped aside, and I stepped outside. As soon as I saw Julian, tears welled in my eyes. I blinked them back, trying to stay strong. I swallowed hard, my throat dry as I stared into Julian’s eyes.

There was so much love in them, too much. It made what I had to do next feel like cutting my own heart out. His hands were on my shoulders in an instant, his eyes scanning my face, my body.

“Are you okay?” he asked, worry lacing his tone. “Are you hurt?”

I shook my head. “I’m fine, Julian.”

He exhaled roughly, dropping his hands from my shoulders. “I’ve been worried about you. I called. I texted. I didn’t know what the hell was going on.” His brows drew together. “Why haven’t you come home?”

I looked away. I couldn’t answer.

“Is something wrong with India?” he pressed, stepping closer.

Still, I said nothing. I didn’t know what to say.

“Stefanie,” his tone sharpened, but not with anger, with desperation. “Talk to me before I assume the worst and start looking for people to kill.”

Shit. He deserved to know the truth. Maybe he’d be patient with me, give me time to convince India about us. My mouth opened, ready to tell him everything, until I saw movement from the corner of my eye. My heart stopped.

India.

She was walking down the sidewalk, headed back from Joanie’s house. Despite the text she’d sent, she was coming back to talk. Her gaze landed on us, Julian and me. The moment her eyes met mine, something cracked in her expression.

The betrayal, the raw hurt, it poured from her like a wound split open. She didn’t say a word. She didn’t have to. The pain on her face said everything. I’d broken my daughter’s heart. She turned and walked the other way.

I could barely breathe. Seeing my expression, Julian turned his head to follow my gaze, but I panicked.

“Julian!” I called out.

His eyes snapped back to mine, searching my face. “What’s wrong, baby?”

This man deserved better than me. And India deserved all of me. I was all she had. I knew what I had to do. I had to sever this connection with Julian so that I wouldn’t harm my relationship with my daughter. Damn, this was going to hurt so fucking bad.

“I’ve had some time to think,” I began, my voice softer now, trembling. “And I realized... this just isn’t working out for me.”

His eyes widened. “What are you talking about, love?”

“Don’t call me that,” I whispered, closing my eyes for a split second as pain sliced through me like a razor.

“Don’t call you what? My love? Youaremy love, Stefanie! So what the hell is going on?”

I looked away, unable to meet the devastation taking root in his eyes.

“Julian, I thought I could do this. I thought I was brave enough. But I can’t.”

He dragged a hand down his face and then through his hair, stepping back like I’d hit him. “Stefanie... are you trying to break up with me?”

“We can’t break up,” I said, voice flat, hollow. “Because we were never officially together.”

His jaw clenched. “How the fuck are we not a couple when I’ve beenlivingwith you for months? We’ve fucked in every room in your house and...”