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“I did it for your daughter, you dolt!” I yell, not caring if anyone hears me. “Linda wants you back so Amber can have a family. I can’t deny such a sweet girl her parents being together.”
He releases my arms and gives me a weird look.
“And… and…” Tears pour down my face like a fountain, almost choking me.
“I owe Linda.”
His forehead creases in a frown. “You owe Linda? How?”
“She owns the foundation that gave me a college scholarship. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for her. I had a vague memory that I’d seen her before, so after you left that night, I looked her up and discovered who she is. I knew I couldn’t continue having an affair with you when she wanted you back. It felt like betraying the woman who helped me become what I am today. I felt like an ingrate.”
Gareth curses and rakes his fingers through his hair. He takes my hand and leads me to the sofa. He sits beside me before handing me the box of tissues on the coffee table. I grab it to dab at my eyes.
“Are you alright?” he questions a few minutes later, breaking the intense silence.
I nod, ashamed of my outburst.
“You should have told me all this. I thought we’d gotten close enough to tell each other everything.”
I sniff, evading his gaze. “I didn’t want you to talk me out of ending our affair.”
“What’s the name of the charity organization?”
“Girls Support.”
He sighs. “I don’t think Linda has ever done a charitable thing in her life.”
My wet eyes rise to his.
“If you want to show appreciation to anyone concerning your college education, it should be to me.” He smiles. “I own the two charity organizations that Linda runs. She insisted they be opened in her name so she could have something to keep her busy. Eventually, she abandoned them because she felt there was too much work to be done.”
My lips part with surprise.
“So, you don’t owe her a damn thing.”
“Are you sure you’re not just saying that?”
“Have I ever lied to you?”
I lower my gaze.
“And while it’s sweet and heartwarming that you care about Amber so much that you want her to have a family, I assure you that Linda and I will never get back together. Once bitten, twice shy. I’d rather die a lonely bachelor than spend the rest of my life in misery.”
“What about Amber?”
“Amber is my daughter. She’s smart. Eventually, she will figure out—if she hasn’t already—that her mother isn’t a nice woman. You don’t have to worry about her. Amber will be fine.”
Registering how stupid it was of me to have broken up with him, and also relieved that I don’t owe Linda anything, I bow my head.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you about my discovery.”
He lets out a sigh. “It’s alright. I didn’t handle the situation the best either. I’m sorry for how cruel I was to you.”
How do I make this right? I’ve made a mess of things, and I don’t know how to go about fixing it. Should I tell him I love him and want him back, or do I go home and lick my wounds?
No! I can’t bear to cry into my pillows again tonight, especially over my stupid mistake.
“Gareth.”
