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Two days ago…
I WAS GOBSMACKED by the events of the twenty-four hours after Will left.
Every detail came together seamlessly. On the surface, it seemed as if it were all meant to be, except I was fooling myself in a desperate attempt to validate the decisions everyone was making, including me.
I couldn’t comprehend how their plans had come together so quickly. Although, the thought had crossed my mind that it had been a test of some sort.
Perhaps a test to see if one of us would do the right thing.
As I stood by watching Miranda utterly heartbroken, I had wondered how Will could have been so cruel. He certainly had a pair of steel balls to walk out on her, believing she’d be here when he returned.
I still couldn’t believe he’d gone to Las Vegas with that sleazy woman.
My decision to get on board with Tate to help Miranda was simple after the unbearable pain Will had caused her. Miranda’s agonizing sobs had stripped my conscience raw. Her cries ofwhyhad gutted me as she stared into a painting purchased during their holiday in Carmel.
Nothing made sense. How could Will love her so completely in one night and then the next morning leave to be with his lover?
Will’s blatant, coldhearted disregard astounded me. It had also made it easier to support Lily’s plan to move Miranda out of California.
Regardless of Will’s reprehensible behavior, I still had a moral dilemma. The baby would be the one crux for me in keeping Miranda’s secret.
My head and emotions were all over the place, but nothing I felt compared to the devastation Miranda was experiencing. I honestly didn’t know how she was holding it together.
“There’s no way I can be with a man who unabashedly cheats on me. He left me sobbing on the bathroom floor. My child deserves better than that. I deserve better.” Miranda cried into her hands.
Lily was by her side, her face bright red with fury. My husband, Tate, didn’t look much different. They were both passionate people and a little scary when one of their own had been harmed.
“Honey, nobody expects you to stay with that son of a bitch.” Lily patted her back, handing her another tissue. “Are you absolutely sure he’s withher? Maybe you misunderstood, and he was only going with Jason.”
“No, I’m sure. All that matters to me now is that we had what I believed was the most amazing night for both of us, and then this morning he left with Cori. End of story. I’m done.”
“I swear I could beat the shit out of him,” Tate growled, seething. “Why waste time? Let’s move you out now.”
I cringed at the disdain in his voice. Tate didn’t hate anyone, and I loved his usually pleasant disposition. Bloody hell, this side of him unnerved me.
“Let’s not be hasty. Give Miranda time to breathe and collect her thoughts,” I told them, eyeing Tate, a silent conversation passing between us. A slight nod said he understood. My passionate man could be reasonable. He just needed a nudge sometimes.
“No, I don’t want to wait,” Miranda said in a raw, raspy voice. “I want everything that’s mine out of here. Strip the place of me so he can feel the emptiness he left inside me.”
“Your wish is our command.” Tate jumped to his feet, summoning us to follow with a loud clap. “Let’s get packing!”
Between the four of us, we collected every item belonging to Miranda within three hours. There was no trace indicating she had ever lived in the beach house. Not a hair clip tucked between the sofa’s cushions or a lonely tampon in the furthest corner of the bathroom cabinet. There was nothing to remind Will of Miranda.
We had successfully stripped the house of Miranda Rose Bradford.
Next, Miranda launched into discussing LA Premier. She owned half, and Tate and Lily each owned 25 percent. Neither of them had wanted to buy her out, believing she would feel differently once her emotions calmed. Finally, they were talking some sense.
Of course, we all hoped she’d return someday and pick up right where she left off, but I wasn’t holding my breath. Miranda had made it clear her baby was her top priority. I took her comment as she would not be returning.
“Listen. I’ll agree tonotsell with one stipulation: I want you to split the profits equally between the two of you.”
I turned toward Miranda, stunned to hear her condition.
“You’re out of your mind!” Tate blurted. “You need money for you and the baby!”
“No way! This is your emotions talking. We won’t split the money. The business is still half yours,” Lily said, wide-eyed as if Miranda were delusional.
I began to wonder if her devastation over Will walking out on her might have made her lose all sense of herself. Emotional trauma could do a number on anyone.
