AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“My son is ‘Most Eligible Bachelor.’ What did you think would happen? I can only imagine the looks on people’s faces at our gala this year.”
He shook his head. “You won’t even ask me how I am. Aren’t you curious that I wasn’t happy? Perhaps Andrea wasn’t happy?”
His mother tapped her fingers to her lips. “I bet it had something to do with the prenuptial agreement.”
“What prenup? I never asked Andrea to sign a prenup?”
His mother didn’t. When would her meddling stop?
“That’s where you made a mistake. I mentioned it to her at our dinner.”
“Why would you do that?”
His mother waved away his question. “It’s a reality. I know you probably bought into the fantasy that you would be together forever, but how many marriages go down the drain in today’s society? Fifty percent. You will not lose everything you worked for in this family just for a pretty face. Looks fade, and she could turn on you.” His mother snapped her fingers. “In a moment.”
Lance could only stare at his mother. His lips parted, and though no words came, his fists clenched.
His mother met his stare. “She didn’t tell you, did she? Well, that only proves that she loves you for you and didn’t want to rock the boat. Unless she called things off because of it. I’m not one to suggest divorce—”
A heavy sigh escaped his lips with a loud groan. “Mom, stop!”
Her eyebrows raised. “You watch your tone with me.”
He threw his arms up. “I’ve taken all I can take! I love you, but this has to stop. Between you and Dad, you’re tearing me apart. I hate we lost Amelia, but ever since she died you’ve become obsessed with my life. Where I go to school. Whom I marry. I put up with it because I felt sorry for you, but you’ve ruined me! I lost the woman I love!”
“Andrea will come to her senses. All you have to do is apologize.”
He bared down on his teeth. “I’m not talking about Andrea. Yes, I love her, but not enough to marry her. She felt the same way about me. We agreed to call things off. Why the press is spreading a story about infidelity, I don’t know, but I’ll find out. I love Chantelle, and I always will.” He paced the floor. “I shouldn’t have let you talk me out of our marriage.”
His mother’s eyebrows furrowed. “It was for the best, son. We were only thinking of you.”
He gave a mirthless laugh. “You thought I didn’t know my own mind. You assumed I wouldn’t do the right thing.” He stared at her. “You thought I would abandon her like most guys do when they get a girl pregnant. I didn’t. I did the right thing.”
“What is going on in here?” A deep voice interrupted.
His mother sat on the couch, folding her fingers in her lap.
Lance met his father’s gaze. “An overdue intervention.”
“Are you alright?” He asked his wife.
His mother didn’t speak. She only stared ahead.
His father’s nostrils flared. “What did you say to her? Haven’t you disappointed your mother enough already?”
He heard his father correctly. There was no muffling in Lance’s ears. Despite the knot in his stomach, he spoke up. “Which time, Dad? When I got Chantelle pregnant? When I quit the firm? When I ran off and married her? When we lost your only grandchild?”
His father opened his mouth, but no response came.
Lance shook his head. “This family has to change. I’m not a puppet for you two to control. Why do you think I moved out here and didn’t stay closer in town? To get some space from you both! You raised me to be a man of my word, and when I do that, you tell me it embarrasses the family. Well... I hate to break it to you, but this ends now. You either support me and my choices, or you can forget you have a son.”
His father raised his eyebrows. “Have you lost your mind?”
“I think I got it back.” He paused for a second to regain his composure. “So here’s the deal. I’m not marrying Andrea. I’m going to clean up this mess. I’m not coming back to the firm. I’m working on Amelia’s Foundation full time.”
His mother finally interjected. “Lance you can’t mean—”
He raised his hand to stop her. “And, I’m going to convince Chantelle to stay here. If not, I’m going with her.” He released a deep breath. A weight lifted from his chest. “I want you both to leave. I’ll let you know when I want to talk to you again.”
