Page 134 of The Truth of Us

He looks destroyed, struggling to get the words out, but he chokes them out, forcing the truth to the surface. “I failed her, failed them… There were nights I would convince myself it couldn't have been him. Even though somewhere deep inside I knew. But how could he? What father would do that? It couldn't be true… no father..." he swallows hard, but continues, ".. would destroy his own son simply to win."

That line hurts. Because it ought to be true.

"I was so wrong."

Alexander clears his throat, turns his face away, but I don't miss how he moves his hand, quickly brushing away tears from his eyes. When he turns back to me, his face has hardened.

Alexander says, "I have meetings with lawyers, different law enforcement agencies, and the media. I need to finish this."

He looks directly at me, and I have to suppress the urge to look away, because the pain is so visceral I can feel it. "She shouldn't be alone."

It’s not approval, but maybe something more important: trust. Alexander is laying it all out for me. He is showing me what his family has done to him, telling me he needs to finish this and it will get uglier before it is all over. Right now he is a father entrusting another man with the person he loves most.

I rub at the ache in my chest at the thought of what this must be doing to her. How this must feel like every old wound has been ripped open, and someone is constantly pouring salt into the wound.

I open my mouth to speak, but all that comes out is a croak. So I clear my throat and say the only thing that matters: “I want to be there for her.”

Alexander studies me for a moment before saying, “Siding with me could be bad for your business.”

I shake my head, my eyes locking on his. He needs to know I mean it when I say, “Business comes and goes.” and then I repeat, “I want to be there for her.”

Alexander turns from me, and my breathing picks up. He doesn’t believe me… But then he reaches for something and turns to hand me an envelope. I open it and peek inside to see an address, gate codes, security clearance, and everything I need to get to Harper.

Alexander says, "She probably won't answer her phone. She won't answer the door either. Harper hides when she's hurting." I look up from the envelope, and Alexander gives the tiniest smile. "Go anyway."

He doesn’t have to tell me twice. I move without thinking. His car leaves, and I jump into mine and give my driver instructions to take me home and wait for me to take me to the airport. I messaged the guys letting them know I will be out of state for the foreseeable future. When I am settled, I will contact them and work remotely.

I used the drive to go over the contents of the envelope. He even included the information for his private plane that just so happens to be in Chicago, ready to fly to New York.

Time blurs as I pack and plan. My phone hasn’t stopped going off, but I ignore it and make it to the private airfield in no time.

On the flight, I go through the messages and respond to the ones that matter. I give the bulk of the truth to Rowan; he can censor it and filter the information to those who need it. I follow up with Caleb and Julian. They reassure me that they have something lined up with Richard's company to make up for the loss we experienced over the past weeks. That Julian will be focused on it in the coming months. I don't respond to Theo, but somehow he gets the information anyway and sends a thumbs-up emoji and a GIF from Notting Hill. I laughed and then turned my attention out the window of the plane. It is dark outside; not much can be seen. But the void seems to settle something in me. I know she probably won’t be happy to see me. Fuck, Harper is likely to be angry, but I will be there for her in any way that she needs. Even as an outlet for all her pain and anger. And if, when this is all over, she sends me away, I will go. It will kill me, but I will do whatever she needs to get through this.

A car is waiting for me when I land. Apparently, Alexander has thought of absolutely everything. We drive and as we move past the city and the dark closes in again, nerves and anticipation bubble up. That familiar panic, the what if I am not enough? But I keep hearing that little voice that says she chose me once, maybe she can choose me again, but this time I add to that voice because even if she doesn’t choose me this time. I choose her. I choose to be here for her.

We drive up to a massive gated property; it feels almost sacred when the gates open and we move again. A sprawling estate reveals itself as we drive. A weight settles in my chest, but I swallow down the feeling, thank the driver, and make myself move. Alexander had messaged on the way saying that Harper had given all the staff in the home time off, that it should only be her at the property. I blow out a breath, looking at the massive home… The sheer size makes me feel smaller than I already feel.

I punch in the code Alexander gave me and hear the lock disengage. My hand reaches out, and I hold my breath as I push the door open. But I freeze; I hesitate for a moment. My fear and panic rearing their ugly heads… Thinking… Maybe I shouldn't. Maybe she'll hate seeing me. But then I remembered the look in Alexander’s eyes, the pain in his voice.

She shouldn't be alone.

So I metaphorically pull up my big-boy panties and walk into her world for the first, or maybe the last time. I set my bags down and listened for her. I’m about to text Alexander, but then I hear something. I pause, hold my breath, is she is crying. It is so quiet. My heart drops, and I move towards the sound. I rush through the unfamiliar space and find myself in a different wing of the house. Then I see her… She is on the ground, on her knees in front of a closed door.

A sound must escape my lips, because her head snaps up and her blue eyes, that are usually so sparkly, look flat. She looks shocked; she almost recoils from the sight of me, but then something happens. Because her entire body softens as my name leaves her lips on a whimper, and I move.

34

HARPER

Ithought I was hallucinating, that I had finally lost it. I didn’t hear the door bell, or anyone trying to buzz in at the gate. I didn’t even hear his footsteps. I had been so confident that today I could go in, I could face his room… I just wanted to be surrounded by him. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him, and after last night dreaming about the man he never would become, the family he would never have… I woke up a bigger mess than I had been before. Because my grandfather was responsible for the death of my mother and brother, ‌my father had declared public war on him… and I…

When the frenzy around us got even worse, my father sent me away, assuring me I could work from home or from the New York offices, but for now it was better to stay behind the gates, with the security team he assured me were present but I would never see.

So when I heard a pained sound and looked up to see Elliot standing in the hall of Will’s wing, I flinched. Because how the fuck was he here. My tired, grief-riddled brain did not catch up fast enough… but I realized he couldn't be here unless my father invited him, and the thought of my father finding Elliot amidst everything he was dealing with, to send him to me.

I barely got his name out, and he was moving toward me. He didn't hesitate; he swooped me up into his arms and turned back away from Will’s door. I don't know how he knew where to go, but eventually we made the sitting room where I had the fire going. It probably wasn’t needed, but something about the constant movement in the flames soothed me and allowed me to just be. Elliot moved to set me on the couch, but I clung to him in a way I don’t think I have ever clung to another person in my life.

Elliot is here. He came for me.