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I didn’t hesitate. “I don’t think he is. I know he is.”
She laughed hard, wrapping her arm around her stomach.
“Oh, Addy, you have to stop being so gullible. Do you know the real reason Wyatt married me—you? His grandmother told him if he didn’t get married, he wouldn’t inherit James Bank.”
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not. He’s an asshole, Addy. So, now, I’m going to blow his money however I see fit. He thinks he can marry me for money? Then I’m going to at least get to spend it.”
“I can’t, Allison. I’ve given myself to him. I’m his, and he’s mine.”
I could feel the tears pressing at the back of my eyelids.
“I’m sorry, Addy, but I want my life back. If you don’t switch back with me, I’ll tell everyone the truth, and then he’ll leave us both. If he leaves, how will Dad get the care he needs? Think about this. Don’t be selfish.”
“I don’t believe you. Would you actually put Dad’s life in jeopardy like that? This isn’t a game, Allison.”
“I won’t need to put Dad’s life in jeopardy because I know you, Addy. You wouldn’t do anything to endanger Dad’s chances of survival. You’ll switch back, and everything will be as it should be.”
She had me.
I couldn’t win.
If I didn’t switch back, she would tell everyone. And I believed she would. Allison didn’t make idle threats. If she spilled the beans, we wouldn’t have the money for Dad’s treatments. This meant I could either lose both Wyatt and Dad, or I could just lose Wyatt.
I knew what I had to do.
My body began to shake, and anger spiraled through me at dangerous levels. Then anguish rushed in, replacing the anger and making me feel weak with nausea. The tears that were threatening earlier broke through, rolling down my cheeks before clinging to my chin.
“Fine. I’ll go, but you will call Dad’s doctors today and get his affairs situated. He has an appointment next week, so before you run off to Paris, you suck it up and do the right thing.”
She didn’t bat an eyelash. “Deal. I’ll take care of everything before I go.”
I nodded, trying to keep it all together. I couldn’t tell her I was in love with Wyatt. If I did, I had a feeling she would use that against me somehow. I had to make everything seem like it was okay.
It wasn’t.
I wasn’t.
But I had to do what I had to do for Dad. He meant the world to me, and if giving up Wyatt meant Dad would have a better chance at beating cancer, then so be it.
It would destroy me, but it was a matter of life or death. Unlike my cruel and selfish sister, I would do the right thing for our father.
I went to our room although I supposed it wasn’t our anything anymore. Going to the bed, I grabbed the blanket on his side of the bed and clutched it in my fist. Just the night before, we had made love and promises with our bodies. I was no longer keeping my promise.
Tears slid down my cheeks as pain bloomed inside my chest, spreading into my limbs and making me feel as though I was dying. I wasn’t sure I was going to survive leaving him.
Looking around the room, it was then I realized nothing here was really mine. All I had was my small bag of personal items. I had taken Allison’s things on our honeymoon, and we had yet to collect my stuff from Mom and Dad’s place. Still, there was one thing I refused to leave behind.
Going to the clothes hamper, I pulled out the old T-shirt of his that I had been wearing. Holding it to my face, I allowed his scent to fill my senses, bringing forth a fresh wave of tears.
Before leaving, I ran my fingers over the soft sheets where he had slept the night before. “I love you, Wyatt. Always,” I whispered.
Then I left the room, taking with me the sweet memories we had made together but leaving behind everything else. Including my heart and every dream I had of a life with the man I loved.
