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That information didn’t seem to deter Grace one bit. Instead, she chuckled. “You mean that mousy little assistant of his? Don’t be absurd. She’s just a temporary stand-in. They will never last. I hear her father’s a gambler and they’re deep in debt. I highly doubt that will sit well with Matthew’s parents.”
“How—how do you know all this?” Charlie shrilled. “Never mind. I don’t care. It’s none of my business. Matt can do whatever he wants and his parents do what they want. I, mother, will do what I want—to become an entrepreneur.”
Grace’s laugh started off light, then lingered a little too long. “An entrepreneur? Oh, Charlotte, you’ve become much tooneurotic to push that hobby of yours into anything more than what it is.”
As it still stood, no one could escalate a casual insult into something so hurtful like her mother. It only hurt more because this was the woman who was supposed to be Charlie’s anchor.
“It isn’t a hobby. I am devoting myself to it.”
“What makes you think you know anything about business? All your experiences shopping and dressing up while you were growing up? The postings on your social media? Please.”
“I have a master’s degree in business management, in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Anyone can get a degree. Having the skill is a different story.”
Though born into a wealthy family, Grace had a good grip on investments, so that was something Charlie couldn’t argue against. In fact, she was the guarantor of Charlie’s newly gained beauty spa.
“Your boutique barely made any profit. What makes you think this spa will be any different?”
“I believe in it. I am passionate about it, and I certainly want to spend more time on it than withMatt.” It was clear after all the dates she’d canceled. She found proposals and marketing plans more exciting than eating sushi with her then-fiancé.
Grace had the look of someone who was not only unconvinced, but that the speaker was an idiot. At this rate, it was apparent that anything else Charlie said wouldn’t stick. She’d received enough disparagement for the day. Before letting her mother put in another insult, Charlie cut their time short.
“I have to go. I have friends to meet with.” Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heels.
“We’re not finished, Charlotte!” Grace scolded, but didn’t follow, grumbling something about being disrespectful.
That was the word of the day as far as the theme goes. Disrespect.
According to the parents tonight, she was the wreck. And who knows? Maybe they were right.
As she walked down the concrete around the courtyard to look for Rick, she spotted another guest she wasn’t hoping to see.
Matt. And he brought his new lady. They didn’t see her, busy in their own world and mingling with others, looking very much like a happy couple. The selfish side of her emerged, feeling resentment in one of the worst forms. Envy.
Her former fiancé moved on smoothly, and on the surface, so did she. He found someone, and she got to choose the path she desired. Finding a new romance wasn’t the most important part of moving on. It was self-preservation. Yet everyone was making it out to be.
She didn’t know how long she stood by herself looking into nothing until the touch of a warm hand brushed her shoulder. Snapping out of her hollow trance, Rick’s handsome face surfaced.
“Hey,” he said gently. “Are you okay?”
He held her hands, and that was when she realized their unsteadiness. Her palms felt damp, tensed. “Y-yeah,” she replied, almost trembling.
“I saw you talking to your mom, I think. I didn’t want to interrupt, but it looked like a tense conversation.” His grip on her tightened. “You sure you’re okay? Want to go somewhere quieter?”
Yes. “Yes,” she breathed. Desperately. “I need some air.”
He guided her away from the walking path, passing people who recognized her. She passively greeted back while clutching onto Rick’s waist.
By the time she got a chance to breathe comfortably, the surrounding noises died down. Leaning against a wall, she couldn’t tell where they were, just that they were finally alone. Running water from a fountain was the only sound she could hear besides her deep breaths.
Rick was close, still next to her, hands still touching. She didn’t want him to move.
“I’ve got you,” he assured. “Do you need water?”
“No, stay.” She shut her eyes and pressed up against him out ofpure whim, no longer caring about propriety and boundaries. He didn’t waver and held her close, remaining silent as she gave herself a moment.
Wrapped up in him, she inhaled the entirety of him and the heaviness slowly washed away along with the waters in the distance. After a while, they rocked together. Like a lullaby, she sighed with the rhythm.
