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I’d never been more grateful for Julian than I was at that moment. Christian didn’t pay him any mind, shoving him away. I hated I was now causing problems with him and his best friend.
As soon as I took a step toward her car with her in my arms, Christian snapped…
“Kinley, you’re going to have to choose. It’s either me or your mother.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
—Kinley—
I stumbled back, his words almost knocking me on my ass. “You don’t mean that.”
“You get in that car with her then you’re making your fucking choice. I won’t stand around and watch you drown with her anymore.”
All eyes were on me. I could tell his parents wanted to intervene but didn’t know how or what to say. It was a whirlwind of emotions, spiraling out of control. One minute I was in his arms, feeling safe, and now I was holding my mom up with him throwing ultimatums at me.
How did this happen? What was going on? How do I fix it?
“Please don’t do this…” I pleaded, feeling his anger burning a hole into my heart.
“You leave me no choice,” was all Christian replied.
I didn’t recognize the cold, hard man standing in front of me. He wasn’t the man I’d been with for the last nine years, the one who’d protected me, loved me unconditionally, the man who’d healed me and made me believe I was worth something.
He was a stranger, standing with his fists at his side. Ready to fight for my future, not realizing I couldn’t move forward with him when my mother’s past was dragging me back into the Hell she’d lived in.
“Kinleyyy Care Bearrrr…” Mom slurred. “I love youuuu.”
It was all I needed to hear, the choice was made for me. I helped her into her car, buckling her into the passenger seat before getting into the driver’s side.
My heart was beating out of my chest, thinking that Christian would say something, anything to stop me, tell me he loved me and didn’t mean it. That he’d be here for me like he had been since the first time we’d talked.
He didn’t.
Not one word.
No I love you.
I’m sorry.
Nothing.
Silence.
With sorrow in his gaze, he watched as I buckled myself into the driver’s seat and never broke eye contact with me. For the first time, his stare hurt me in ways I never thought possible when it came to him. I could still feel his love, but I could also feel his hate.
I swear we just looked at each other for seconds, minutes, hours, both of us lost in our own thoughts, our own demons.
Mine was my mother.
His … was me.
He might have been my savior, but I was definitely his demise.
Slowly, I found the courage to start the car, thinking this was the moment he’d run toward me and get in to help me drive her home like he’d done so many times I lost count at this point.
Again, he didn’t.
He simply watched as I backed out of his yard, his heart breaking, his soul aching. I was taking him into Hell right there with me.
