He said all the right words, but they weren’t enough. They would never be enough.
Cole kept talking. “I don’t know how to be the partner you deserve. But I want to learn.”
He pulled the papers out of the envelope and handed them to me. I took out my phone and turned on the flashlight, skimming the legal document. The amount of money mentioned made me dizzy. “Oh my god. You talked about a family trust, but I had no idea…”
“I don’t care about the money.” He shook his head like we were talking about pennies. “I walked away from it once and I’ll gladly do it again.”
“There are a lot of zeros here, Cole.” I waved the papers at him.
“You and Maisie are worth more to me.” He said it so simply, I couldn’t help but believe him. I just didn’t know if it changed anything between us.
“Why did you show me this?”
“I need you to realize what we’re up against.” His voice was grim. “My grandfather has money and power. And he hates to lose. He doesn’t see Maisie as a little girl. She’s a chess piece to him, and he’ll sacrifice her if it gets him the win.”
“I won’t let him touch her.” Ice flooded my veins.
“Neither will I.” Cole held my gaze firmly with his. “I promise you, Ava. Maisie will be safe.”
“What’s your plan?”
“I’m done holding back. I’m going to make sure he can never threaten my family ever again.” His eyes were fierce. “He's coming back tonight. I called him. We have ten minutes to set this up. Do you trust me?”
Minutes later, I crouched in the shadow cast by a truck in the parking lot while Cole stood beneath a light. The sleek black car from earlier pulled up, and his grandfather got out. The smug smile on his face made me want to smack him, but I forced myself to stay hidden.
“Finally came to your senses?”
“You left me little choice,” Cole bit out the words. “You threatened my family. My daughter.”
His grandfather scoffed. “You need to toughen up. Maybe this marriage will finally make a real man out of you.”
“Like you? If your idea of a real man is one who threatens to take a child away from the mother who loves them, I want nothing to do with it. You’re weak,” Cole goaded him. “A pathetic excuse of a man.”
“Unlike you, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to succeed.” His grandfather narrowed his gaze. “You need to learn that nothing—and no one—else matters. Now, sign those papers or I will use every bit of power and money I possess to destroy that child you foolishly want to protect.”
Cole yanked the papers from his pocket. “These papers? The ones promising me access to the family trust if I marry the woman you chose for me? I sign these, and you’ll leave my daughter alone?”
“Yes, yes.” He motioned for Cole to sign. “Sign the papers and your bastard child is safe.”
I almost flew from my hiding spot at those words, but I forced myself to stay still. We had a plan.
Cole tilted his head, held the papers in front of his grandfather, and ripped them in half. “I don’t want your money.”
The older man’s face reddened, and his voice filled with rage. “I don’t bluff, Cole. I will drag that woman through the mud, and take custody of your precious daughter. You think the court will side with a single mother scraping pennies together over a billionaire? I will make both of them hate you. And there is nothing you can do to stop me.”
“Are you sure about that?” Dark amusement edged Cole’s words, and he turned his face toward my hiding spot. “Did you get all of that, Ava?”
“Every word.” I stood up and walked to Cole’s side. “Thank you for standing in the light. The video really pops.”
The color drained from his grandfather’s cheeks as his gaze shot to the cell phone I held.
“Now, Grandfather.” Cole clapped his hands together to get his attention. “Here’s how this is going to go. You will leave my family alone. Ava and Maisie are off-limits to you. Forever.”
“I want that video deleted,” he said, full of bluster.
Cole shook his head. “You’re in no position to bargain. Is he, Ava?”
“Not even remotely.” I glared at the man who threatened my daughter. My body vibrated with barely contained rage. I wanted to let it out, but Cole wasn’t finished.
