When I saw who rounded the corner…

I stiffened and wished I were anywhere but here. “Mother. Walt.”

She rounded the corner behind Walt. Her hair was in a severe bun, and she wore a black cotton dress. Her lips were stained a light red, and she grasped a small purse with white knuckles. “You’re still here.”

“Yeah.” I shoved my hand through my hair. “I was waiting to see—”

“Lilly,” she finished for me, crossing her arms and casting a quick glance at Walt. “She’s not coming, and I think that’s best. She’s had a long night at the hospital with Derek. You nearly crushed his trachea.”

Walt didn’t speak. Just stared at me.

They were likely waiting for me to apologize, but that wasn’t going to happen. I wanted to ask if the wedding was still on, but I didn’t want to hear the outcome of my betrayal secondhand. I wanted it straight from the source, so I remained silent, steadily staring at my mother and ignoring Walt. “Why did you come here?”

“Lilly needs clothes.” Her nostrils flared. “She doesn’t wish to see you, so I came in her stead. Walter drove me, because I’m too fraught to do so myself.”

I stepped back, out of the doorway, ignoring my mother’s gibe. I wouldn’t believe a word she said, not when it came to Lilly. “I’m sure you know where her room is.”

Mother started up the stairs, her back ramrod straight and her head held high. Halfway up them, she stopped, gripping the bannister tightly. “Are you pleased with yourself, Jackson?”

“No.” I gritted my teeth. “Not at all.”

“You need to leave here. And don’t come back.” She glowered at me. “Not until you’re married to someone else, and Lilly is safely married, and you’re both ready to behave like adults. Until then…stay away from her. From all of us.”

I said nothing. Just stared back at her.

Shaking her head, she climbed the stairs. I turned to Walt and waited. He wore a crisp gray suit and light blue shirt, and had his hair styled to the side as always. As soon as we were alone, he did exactly what you would expect a man like him to do. “How much is this going to cost me?” he asked.

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“For you to go away and leave Lilly alone,” Walt said, pulling a checkbook out. “How much money will it take?”

“I don’t want your money,” I said through my gritted teeth. “Put your damn checkbook away.”

A muscle in Walter’s jaw ticked, and he stepped closer. “I didn’t spend my life working as hard as I did, and as much as I did, to lose it because of a little punk like you. We both know you’re the type of guy to take the check. Take the money. Leave our lives. Don’t ever come back.”

Shaking my head, I grabbed my bags. “You’re wrong about me. You’ve always been wrong about me. And I’m not taking a damn thing from you except your daughter—if she’ll have me. So you can go to hell.”

Suitcases in hand, I headed for the door. It was time to leave this life behind me, but first, I had one last stop to make. Nothing, and no one, would prevent me from making it. Not even him.

Lilly

I sat at my father’s table, staring at nothing, and had been for God only knew how long. It felt like a lifetime, though. Last night ended up being a blur of getting Derek to the hospital, convincing him not to press charges, breaking off our engagement, and getting screamed at by my father for eight hours straight.

The whole time, I sat there. Taking it. Listening to how horrible of a daughter I was. How terrible of a human being I was. Because I knew I was going to leave.

Once Jackson showed up, I was out of here.

I never considered that he might leave town without talking to me first, like he had last time. Not after all the things he’d said to me, and what happened in that closet. He wouldn’t leave without coming to see me first. I had to believe that. Had to believe in him. He wouldn’t leave me without a proper goodbye.

And, little did he know, he wouldn’t get a goodbye at all.

He was getting something entirely different. I already knew I wanted to go with him. Leave Arlington. But hours in the hospital to think and reflect on how much time had passed since Jackson came into my life provided me with knowledge of something I hadn’t even realized was happening, or possible.

And that knowledge?

Yeah, it was life-changing.

Smiling, I pressed a hand to my jittery stomach, because I was finally free, and I had Jackson to thank for that. After hours of me sitting by his side, Derek had formally withdrawn his proposal. He was fine, and the doctors gave him a clean bill of health, but he was milking it for all it was worth. Deep down, I think he was grateful for the reprieve. Maybe now he’d find the courage to fight for his happiness, too.

Hastings International was now in jeopardy, which Daddy reiterated nonstop since Lucy did exactly what I expected her to do. It was my fault. I owned that. My actions had led to this, but the thing was, they were mine. My choices. I didn’t regret them, or my feelings for Jackson. I refused to.

Yawning, I sat up straight, leaned my elbows on the table, and picked up the hot coffee the housekeeper set in front of me. I think she pitied me. No one else did. They all hated me, but…

Where was Jackson?

Footsteps sounded behind me, and I mentally prepared myself for the next screaming match. Because I refused to back down, and do as told. And that was driving my father insane. “Daddy, can we please take a break? I’m sorry you’re upset, but—”

“I don’t want you to be sorry,” an all-too-familiar voice said. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”

My lids flew open, and I struggled to my feet. “Jackson, I—”

“Your dad offered me money to leave you. To walk away.”

My jaw dropped. I knew Daddy didn’t like Jackson, but to insinuate he could be bought off like that? That I was some sort of paycheck for Jackson, and nothing more? That was an all-time low. I pressed a hand to my stomach. “No. He didn’t.”

“He did.”

I swallowed hard. “What did you say to him?”

“What the hell do you think I said to him?” he snapped, anger turning his brown eyes almost black. “I told him to go to hell.”

“I—”

He shook his head. “Did you actually think I would take the money? That I used you like that?”

“Used me?” I asked, confused. “Who said anything about—?”

“I’m still that guy to you. The guy who used you and left you.”

I stared at him, because he wasn’t making any sense. “What? Where’s this coming from?”

“You thought I’d take the money.”

Oh. Oh. He thought I actually thought he was that kind of guy, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. I was just curious what his response was. If he told him to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine—like I wanted to do.

“No.” I shook my head. “I didn’t. I just wanted to know—”

“I’m leaving. For good.”

I swallowed hard. Did that mean he didn’t want to be with me anymore? “Okay…”

“I just wanted to make sure you’re okay, before I go.” He stepped closer, his shoulders tense and his hands fisted at his sides. “Are you? Okay?”

“I-I am.” I pressed a hand against my churning stomach again. “Derek called off the wedding.”

He flinched. “I’m sorry for my part in that. I never meant to take your choice from you like that. It makes me no better than Walt.”

“You didn’t. I—”

“Wait.” When I opened my mouth, he held up a hand and stared at me with beseeching eyes. “Let me speak. I have a lot to say, and I don’t know how long we’ll have. All this time, I’ve been trying to accept that you don’t—”

“You.” As if on cue, Daddy stormed into the kitchen with fire burning in his eyes. “How dare you come to my house? Get out! Get out now!”