Page 107 of Taming Grumpy Dr. Beast

“Maybe you can tell us why you’re shaming our daughter out there?” Mrs. Sulton ground out, spittle flying from her mouth.

“Mom, I told you—” Jess tried to explain.

“I’m not speaking to you, Jessamine,” she said, completely dismissing her daughter.

“Now, Love,” Mr. Sulton began. “Let’s not be harsh. We can talk this through.”

Mrs. Sulton narrowed her eyes, throwing her husband a death glare. “Perhaps, if you hadn’t been sosoft, this engagement would not have gone on for this long.”

“It’s only been three months,” I scoffed. “Not a lifetime.”

My father snorted. He clearly did not agree with my assessment.

The Sultons bickered over Jess and where they went wrong with their daughter. Apparently, Father only had so much patience. “Silence. Tonight has been trying enough. What do you think you’re doing out there, Jaxon? What will people think when we announce your engagement to Jessamine?”

“Engagement?” Lily’s voice quivered.

A chill swept through me as I turned to face Lily. I hadn’t heard her enter the room.

Shit!

“Yes, his engagement. I’m not sure why he strung you along, but he and Jessamine have been engaged for the last three months.” Mother answered.

Lily’s eyes zeroed in on Jess.

“Lily, it’s not what you think.” Jess tried to reassure her.

“So, you twoaren’tengaged?” The trembling in her voice had stopped. The cool tone that emerged hurt me even worse.

I stared at her. I didn’t want to lie, but there wasn’t the chance to tell her the full truth, either.

“Jaxon?” She sucked her lips into her mouth and slowly released them.

“Lily, you need to understand—” My heart twisted as tears pooled in her eyes.

Her voice dropped another octave. “I asked you a yes or no question. Are you and Jess engaged?”

I blew out a breath. “Yes, but—” My gaze swung to Jess and then her parents not sure what to say next. No matter what I chose I’d either hurt my best friend or the woman I loved.

She held up her hand and shook her head. “I don’t want to hear any more of your lies.”

“No, Lily, you don’t understand.” I moved forward, needing to touch her. When she recoiled, I stopped dead.

“I trusted the two of you.” Pain twisted her features as she looked between me and Jess.

“It’s not what you think.” I was such a bastard to not have told her sooner about the fake engagement.

“Lily, wait,” Jess called to her then frantically looked at me. I could see she was about to come clean about our situation, but I needed to be the one to do it.

“I was such a naïve fool.” Tears spilled down Lily’s cheeks.

I reached out for her again, but stopped when she threw her hands up, her palms flat out.

“Stop. I don’t want to hear it.” She backed away from me. “Don’t follow me.” Now closer to the door, she turned and ran from the room.

Fuck this. I needed to go after Lily. I couldn’t lose her.

I sprinted for the door, only stopping when Mrs. Sulton’s voice rang out loud and clear. “Are you two engaged or not?”