AllFreeNovel
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“I got your messages.”
“I saw on the news that Suzy is the new CEO of Pixels.” I shrug, looking everywhere but his face.
“I gave it up,” Tristan whispers. “I gave it all up because I realized that isn’t what I truly wanted.”
My eyes meet his, and his gaze drops to my belly. My heart is racing, but I struggle to keep my face expressionless. Don’t let him see how much you’ve missed him, Layla. Don’t let him see how much you love him.
“Come back home, Layla.” Tristan places his hand on mine on the counter, and I quickly withdraw it.
“Home?” I laugh. “There’s nothing in New Brooks for me.”
“You have me.” Tristan taps his chest. “You have Ruby, our baby.” He looks at my belly again.
Suddenly, the floodgates break, and the words I’ve been holding onto since that night in the hospital come gushing out. “You blamed me for everything, Tristan! But you never once apologized for ruining my life!”
“Layla—”
“No!” I shout, drawing people's attention. I’m still talking! You laid into me that night; it’s my turn to tell you what I think of you!”
Tristan raises his hands as if to say fair enough.
“I think you’re selfish!” I poke his chest before leaving behind the counter and walking to stand in front of him. “You destroyed my store! My store! The only thing of mine I had. I built it from the ground up, and you destroyed it without a second thought!”
“Layla—”
“Zip it, Tristan! You are the most annoying man I’ve ever met. You’re mean, controlling, and vain!”
“You were supposed to be paid, Layla,” Tristan whispers.
What?
“What did you say?” I frown.
“Mayor Rich said the land was the town’s, and everybody wasn’t supposed to be there.” Tristan gestures with his hands as he explains. “I had a team of developers do a valuation of all the stores and gave Rich the funds to pay off everyone regardless of the land being the town’s.”
I blink successively. But that means— Wait, that can’t be right. I look around, and I see people watching.
“Still!” I shake my head. “Who are you to come to town and use our land for something that’s probably a retreat for rich assholes like you.” I poke his hard chest again.
“No, Layla. It isn’t that,” his voice remains low as his dark eyes bore into mine.
My ankles hurt as I watch him.
“It’s a mental health institute for the people of the town,” he explains, his voice trembling. “I built it in Deanna’s memory.”
I take a few steps back. Wait, this isn’t how I imagined this reunion would go. Tristan takes a step closer.
“I’d have told you sooner, Layla, but I didn’t know you were related to Deanna.”
“So it was all for—”
“Deanna, yes.” Tristan nods. “I started to forgive myself, and your parents dropped the custody suit. The family’s almost complete, but just one person is missing.” He takes more steps till he is standing a foot away from me.
“Tristan—”
“I love you, Layla.” Tristan raises my chin till my eyes meet his. “I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone.”
“You called me a nobody.” Tears prick at my eyes.
