Page 109 of The Husband Contract

“He’s coming up in two days,” I say. “He wanted to come up today or tomorrow. But I’m working today, and, well, I have something to do tomorrow.”

She rubs my shoulder and nods. “I know. And I’m sorry.” Then, she gives me a big hug. “You okay?”

“I’m going to be fine. Thank you.”

The next morning, I rise early, drive to the flower shop, and pick up the two bouquets I’d already ordered. I make my way down the country road toward the cemetery and drive in. Once parked by a willow tree, I make my way to my parents’ joint grave and place down the flowers.Glancing around, I make sure I’m alone. Then, I can’t stop myself from falling to my knees and crying.

“I miss you, Mom. I miss you, Dad,” I whisper.

I look around again to make sure there’s no one else in the cemetery. I don’t want anyone to think I’m crazy. Tilting my head up, I gaze at the sky and wonder if they’re looking down at me. I close my eyes and wrap my arms around my body, pretending that it’s them.

“I feel so lost, Mom and Dad. I feel like I have no hope and like I don’t know what I’m doing with my life. I’m in desperate need of some guidance. Please look out for me. Please love me. I feel like I have no one.”

If Charlotte really did this to me, she’s betrayed me on a level I could never have imagined. How could my own cousin do this to me? And how could the man I love believe I would do something so horrific?

I don’t even know what to do anymore.

The tears stream down my face. I feel such sorrow—sorrow for what I lost, for what I never had, and for what I’ll never know. I want my parents to be here and to protect me. But I know I have to be strong.

I stand up and square my shoulders. Then, I offer a small smile to the universe and blow kisses out into the air, up to the clouds, up to my parents in heaven.

“Don’t worry,” I say softly. “I’m going to be okay. I have Katherine and Brielle, and they’re my family. Doesn’t mean I don’t miss you, though. Doesn’t mean that every day I don’t wish you were here or think about what I’d do to have you back in my life.”

I remain in place for a few more seconds and sing a song my mom taught me when I was a little girl. It still amazes me that I remember the words. I close my eyes, and I can hear her voice singing along with mine. I smile ascalmness fills me. I don’t know how I know, but Iknowit will be all right. I just have to have faith. I just have to believe.

All my life, I’ve waited for a prince charming to come and save me, but there’s no prince charming who will change my life. That does not mean it can’t change, though. I just have to be strong for myself. I have to find a way.

As I walk back to my car, I feel a renewed sense of vigor. A renewed sense of self. Charlotte betrayed me in the worst way, and I’m going to make sure she’s paid back. I’m going to make sure she knows she betrayed me for the last time.

In that moment, as I think of Sebastian and everything he did, all I can feel is sorrow because he was broken too, but in a different way. The smarter part of me knows I could never fix him, though.

He will have to do that for himself.

Chapter Thirty

Sebastian

The winding road is surrounded by beautiful trees with orange and red leaves, and I appreciate the fall foliage as I drive up to Whispering Haven. The joy and excitement in my being cannot be extinguished. I’m thankful that Willow has agreed to see me, even if it is only because of our joint hatred of Charlotte and Louisa.

I still can’t believe Louisa has betrayed me like this. I thought we had an understanding, a mutual respect in our work and relationship. I trusted her implicitly, to my own detriment.

I settle back and try to enjoy the ride. I’m about to turn on the radio when my phone rings, and I see it’s my mom. I don’t really want to answer, but I decide to. It’s time for me to grow up, to get to know and understand my mother as an adult. She definitely made decisions in her life that I don’tthink were for the best, but now I realize maybe she thought they were. I’m really no one to judge anyone else, as I’ve already made my own bad decisions in life.

“Hi, Mom. How’s it going?” I say into the phone.

“I was just calling to see where you were.” She sounds concerned which is a new emotion for her.

“I’m driving. What’s up?”

“I heard they tried to call an emergency board meeting for today and you said you couldn’t attend.”

“Who told you that?”

“Romanov,” she says softly.

“Why is he speaking to you about company matters?”

“Because he knows what I did for the company,” she says. “Is everything okay?”