Page 88 of The Temporary Bride

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “I found something in my father’s files yesterday,” I begin. “Something I wasn’t supposed to see.”

She stays silent, waiting for me to continue, her hand warm in mine.

“My dad had cancer,” I say, the words tasting bitter as they leave my mouth. “Years ago, when I was just a kid. He never told us. He went through treatment, beat it, and kept it all a secret.”

Chloe’s grip tightens on my hand. “I had no idea.”

“Neither did I.” My voice cracks slightly. “But that wasn’t the worst part. I found out that the cancer came back. Recently. Aggressive. And he didn’t tell any of us. Neither did my mother, even though she knew the whole time.”

Her eyes widen in shock. “Oh my god. I’m so sorry.”

“I confronted my mom about it.” My emotions start to push to the surface. “She admitted that she knew about the recurrence. But she didn’t know if his death was an accident or… or something else.”

Chloe’s hand flies to her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears. “Tristan…”

As we continue walking along the beach, I take a deep breath, getting ready to say what I need to say. Chloe’s concern is obvious, her eyes locked onto mine, waiting for me to open up.

“I think he killed himself.” The words come out in a rush, before I can stop myself. Her grip on my hand tightens. “I think he knew he was going to die, and he… he wanted to be the one to end it. He needed total control over everything, right up to the end.”

The anger and frustration build up inside me, threatening to spill over. I can’t shake the feeling of betrayal running through me.

How can I forgive him for leaving us like this? For robbing us of the chance to truly know him, to say goodbye?

I clench my fists, my chest tight. “I don’t understand why he did it.” My voice has an edge of anger to it. “My mother said he did it to protect us. That he loved so hard, it hurt to be loved by him. But I don’t feel like making excuses for him right now. He could have fought, he could have let us in, let us help him, but instead, he just… gave up.”

I swallow hard, my whole body shaking with anger, grief, and confusion. It’s like a storm inside me, contrasting with the calm waves and clear sky above us.

“I don’t care if my father did this to protect me and my brothers. We all still got hurt. We never had a chance to know him, and we didn’t get a chance to help him fight—or even fucking say goodbye!”

I can feel myself starting to lose control, but Chloe’s hand in mine pulls me back from the edge. I take a deep breath, trying to steady my shaking hands and quiet the noise inside me.

“Hey, it’s okay,” she says. “You don’t have to figure it all out right now. Just breathe.”

I clear my throat, struggling to get out the words. “I… I’m worried that I’ll end up just like him.”

Chloe meets my gaze. “I don’t think you could.”

I stare at her, uncomprehending. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that you’re nothing like your father. Not at all.”

As I hold her close, the warmth of her body against mine, I feel some of the tension ease. I rest my forehead against hers.

“You’re the only good thing to come out of this whole fucked up scenario,” I whisper, my voice hoarse.

She draws back at that, a little line appearing between her brows as she bites her lower lip.

“Do you remember what you said last night?” she asks.

My heart skips a beat at the thought of what I might have said in my drunken stupor. I search my memory, but it’s hazy and broken up, the events of the previous night blurred by the fog of alcohol.

“No,” I reply honestly. “I don’t remember much after I got home.”

The concern in her eyes deepens, and I can’t shake the feeling that I might have said something to hurt her.

“I hope it wasn’t anything bad.”

“No,” she says quickly, and relief floods me. “Nothing bad. I promise.”