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I prefer her to be mad at me. It’s better than having her want me for any other reason than what I can offer her. Safety.
“Never,” she spits.
I snort. “Good. I can never offer you more than a quick fuck anyway.” I lower my voice. “Besides, I prefer a woman with a little more experience. You were never my type anyway.” I tilt my head and scrutinize her with my gaze. “Pretty, but plain.” She flinches.
I know I’m being an asshole, but it’s better to put a barrier between us. Nothing more than my help will she be getting from me.
No one should take away what her husband wanted her to have. His family shouldn’t have a choice, but that is not the way they see it.
“I want to leave,” she grits. “I don’t want to stay with you or have anything to do with anything that belongs to you or your family. I hate you.”
“Trust me. I would prefer not to get involved in your late husband’s battle, but he asked me for this one favor upon his death, and I will honor it, Aura. You’re right. I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for Lane and his son.”
Keep telling yourself that, asshole.
The mention of Lane has tears running like rivers down her cheeks. My chest clenches at the sight. I didn’t want to make her cry. It breaks me inside, but I’m trying to make the best of this nightmare. I need to calm down and convince her to stay, but I can’t stay here. Being near her stirs up old memories better kept where they belong. In the past.
32
AURA
Six Months Later
It has been months that Lane and I have been staying at Kalum’s house in Southampton. Sometimes I feel we should go back to North Carolina. Kalum tells me I’m not out of the woods regarding Lane’s parents’ lawsuits contesting his will. They want to take everything away from me and LJ, stating I’m not entitled to anything and that I used Lane for his money.
“I’m sorry, Aura, but it is best you remove the Turner name. It will help calm things down. It will help prove that you never intended to capitalize on the family’s influence.”
“Mr. Schwartz, it is unfair. I have never touched a single dime of Lane’s money.”
“I know, Aura. I know, but they don’t know that. I did what you told me to and let their lawyer know that you placed everything in a trust for LJ and are managing it until he turns of age. That will make them back off and avoid pursuing the forgery investigation.”
The lawyer Lane trusted to handle his will if something happened to him has helped me, but Lane’s family is relentless.They have tried to paint me out as a gold digger. I don’t even live in my house, for Christ’s sake.
Lane’s mother has even threatened to take Lane away from me. I had to stop going to the doctor when I couldn’t sleep because I was afraid she will use it against me and say I was unstable. Mr. Schwartz is right; I have no choice but to sign the papers to change my name.
“Fine. I’ll sign them. Change my last name to Rayne. I need to get a job anyway.”
“You know you don’t have to work, Aura.”
“I do,” I insist.
“He never wanted to ever see you working because you needed money, Aura. He felt strongly about that.”
I take a deep sigh. “Yeah, but he didn’t realize what lengths his family would go to destroy what he built. Come to think of it, this was his dream and whathewanted. All I wanted was to be with him, but now he is gone. I’m left with no choice.”
“Don’t do this, Aura,” he says, “It will feel like I failed him. Where would you work?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll figure it out. Y-you have a nice day, Mr. Schwartz, and thank you for everything,” I stammer before hanging up and let the tears fall.
I have to talk to Camila and ask her how much she would charge me to watch LJ so I can get a job. Lane’s parents still haven’t figured out where I’m staying, and I have Kalum to thank.
The following week, Mr. Schwartz sent me the court document to update my driver’s license with my name changed. It hurts having a name I was used to being called for so long taken away. I felt like I belonged to the man I loved when he honored me with it. But now, I’m back to square one.
My phone rings while I sit on the bed in the main bedroom in Kalum’s home in Southampton. The sunlight filters throughthe windows of the sheer curtains. I’m looking at the screen with Dex’s name flashing.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Hey, how are you and the little man?”
