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I see the tiniest flicker of hope in Mason’s eyes, and my heart breaks in half. Because when I looked into Erik’s eyes? I saw the eyes of a man determined to control his son.

But I will be damned if it happens again. “Okay,” I say calmly. “Talk to him. But you’re not going alone, Mason.”

“What?”

“You’re not talking to your father alone,” I repeat. “Because I’m going to be right there with you. And I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

“He’s not going to speak to me in front of you,” Mason warns. “And I have to speak with him, Catherine.”

Mason’s voice is firm. I know he’s right. Erik Clark isn’t going to speak freely in front of anyone with the last name of Collings.

“I don’t want to leave you alone with him,” I say. “He’s toxic, Mason. He tells you things that aren’t true. I know he’s your father, but he’s trying to control you. Now he’s pissed off, and he’s going to try and hurt you, and I can’t stand here and let it happen. I won’t!”

Mason puts his hands on my shoulders. “Hey. I know I’m not alone in this. I have you.”

“Mason, I—”

“You can’t have this conversation for me. I have to do it. I have to do it by myself, for myself.”

I blink back tears. Mason slips his hands up to my face, tilting it towards him. “You’ve helped me see who my dad is. Do I have a bit of hope that maybe he’s thought about some things I said? Or that when I say what I’ve really thought, I might reach him in some way? Yes. Because he is my dad. I’m always going to hope for the best. It’s just who I am. It’s part of my DNA. And it’s who you fell in love with. The guy with the optimism and positive nature. That’s my core. But I’m going into this with my eyes open. And that’s because of you.”

The lift chimes, and we’re on the floor for Erik’s hotel room. Panic sweeps through me. I feel like I’m sending Mason off to be destroyed by the person who is supposed to love him and support him. “Don’t do this,” I plead, grasping his arms.

“Baby, go upstairs. Take a shower. Don’t worry about me.”

“Mason, please,” I choke out. “Don’t see him. Or please let me go with you.”

“I can’t. You have to trust me on this,” Mason says. He lets go of me and steps through the open lift doors. “I’ll see you soon. I love you.”

Then the doors close, and Mason is gone. The lift ascends upwards, and the tears fall freely. I know in my heart Erik is not going to change. I saw everything I needed in his eyes tonight. He is going to rip Mason apart emotionally.

The lift doors open on my floor, and as I step out and make my way down the hallway, I’m surprised to see Xavier outside of his room. He’s holding his keycard to the door, but he looks up and sees me. A surprised smile lights up his face, but then it instantly falls. “Catherine?” he asks, stepping towards me. “What’s wrong?”

“Mason,” I manage to say.

His brows snap together. “What? Did you just have a fight?”

I shake my head. “No. He’s … meeting his dad.”

Xavier’s eyes instantly light with recognition. “And I take it this meeting wasn’t planned.”

“No. He’s flown all the way to Singapore to throw everything in Mason’s face.”

Xavier leans against the door and folds his arms across his chest. “Impressive.”

“Impressive?” I choke out. “How is that impressive?”

“Fly all the way from England to Singapore just to yell at his grown son? He really wants to show off jackassery skills.”

Xavier reaches out and puts a reassuring hand on my arm. “I told you if Mason gets rid of this toxicity, he’s going to be a better driver. Tonight might be the beginning for him.”

I merely nod.

“Mason’s smart. Trust him. Besides, he’s proven he’s capable of seeing what’s right in front of him.”

I furrow my brow. “What do you mean?”