Chapter 26 

ANNA. 

Sean returned home last night, though he slept in the guest room. I couldn’t bring myself to care that he did. I needed my alone time. Some time to myself after this week. 

I think he needs that as well. Some space. 

He’ll come around whenever he wants to. I’m tired of apologizing all the time when I’ve done nothing wrong to him. I’ve had days to think about it and I don’t recognize Sean anymore. He might not be cheating on me, but something is wrong with the way he treats me. 

It feels like we no longer know how to communicate with each other. He doesn’t listen to me 

anymore and regardless of what I say to him, he always gets mad. 

Even now, as I set the table for breakfast, he doesn’t spare Finn and me a single glance. He’s looking out the window instead, like he finds something out there more interesting than his 

family. 

I drop the bacon and eggs in front of him, and he mutters a thank you halfheartedly. 

The fork I hold hits the plate and he flinches, looking up at me instantly. “What? Would you rather be eating something else? Somewhere else?” 

“As a matter of fact,” Sean says, standing. “Yes. I’m tired of eating the same food every morning.” 

I draw back. “This is all I can give. You haven’t given me money in months for the house or 

Finn.” 

He cocks his head at me, his cold eyes searing through me. “Use the connections you used to threaten me to get yourself a job. You’re becoming a leech.” 

I stare sharply at Finn whose eyes are on his food, and my gaze rises to Sean’s. “How can you talk to me like that in front of him?” 

“I bet when you made that call to me, he was also there. What makes this any different?” 

He starts to walk away from me, but I say, “I hit someone’s car and he’s charging me for damages. I’ve gathered some money, but I need ten thousand dollars more to pay–” 

Sean whirls. “What kind of car needs that much for repairs? Are you lying to me?” 

Frustrated, I take out my phone and show him the expense list Mr. O’Connor sent to me. “A Bentley, Sean. I know it’s my fault and I should’ve watched the road… and therr, it wasn’t really my fault because he was in my lane, but I don’t have any more money to complete–” 

“I don’t have any money to give you either. What were you thinking? If he can afford that, then he can pay for the repairs himself. Leave it.‘ 

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My lips part and I can’t believe he’s asking me to do that. “I can’t just-” 

Sean walks off, muttering something under his breath that I don’t quite catch. “Sean!” I call out, but he’s already slamming the door shut. 

I settle on the dinner table across Finn who’s chewing at his cereals and toying with his spoon. There are days are I wonder if Finn understands what’s happening between Sean and me. He’s been rather quiet and compliant, kissing and licking my cheek at the slightest opportunity, as if to apologize for his father’s behavior. 

And if for any reason I begin to regret my decision to marry Sean someday, I’d bury that regret because of Finn. He is my love, my little light. 

My gaze drifts across the table to the envelope containing the amount of money I have gathered. I scowl at it. It really is my fault. I shouldn’t have pushed so much. 

Gosh, I feel so silly. 

***** 

MAY. 

I’m hungover and my head hurts so much. Everything’s a little too bright, and even my eyes 

hurt too. 

It’s another day to hide in my room and wait until Ethan goes to work. 

Unfortunately, that isn’t happening. It’s another day off for him, and I’ve got to leave my room at some point. 

I got drunk last night, and the things I said and might have done have me burying myself in the covers. I don’t recall most of it, thank goodness, but I remember a particular action from last night when he had pulled up in front of the house, and he had pulled me out of the car, into his arms. 

Heat burns my cheeks and I squeal as the memory comes to me. 

A very vivid image of me sniffing his neck. I think I might have nipped on the skin a little. 

I gasp when the man knocks on my door. “May? I know you’re up.‘ 

I hide under the covers even further. I’ve been caught. 

Ethan knocks again. “May.” 

Groaning, I get out of bed, crossing the room in quiet steps. I pull the door open a little, peeking through it. “Morning.” 

Ethan’s steel eyes are bright with mirth, and his lips tug up into a knowing smile. “Did you like to play hide and seek as a child?” 

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I blush, unable to meet his gaze. He looks very handsome this morning—dark, unruly hair tumbling about his face, dreamy eyes narrowed at me, arrogant, perfect nose crinkled slightly as he snickers, his full lips tugged up in a half smirk that makes them look very kissable, and his arms….heavens, his arms. They’re so big. 

For the life of me, I’ve never seen Sean pull a weight in this house. Or even do a pushup. But he’s built like an athlete and he moves around with the grace of fairies in cartoons. For someone so big, he has very light and quick steps. 

He has a v–neck t–shirt on with a pair of joggers. His hands are in his pockets, providing a slight bulge to his hips. 

It has thoughts drifting to yesterday, and a bulge in particular. My eyes shift to the v of his thighs and I force my gaze back up abruptly. “Not really. Twice, I hid, and Anna couldn’t find me. Got stuck in the kitchen cabinet,” I mutter, smiling at the sudden memory. “Mom 

screamed her head off when she found me hours later.” 

“I liked it, very much actually. The seeking,” Ethan purrs, and I suddenly get the feeling that we’re no longer talking about the game. 

I suck in my lower lip and tuck my hair behind my ear. “Why?” 

Ethan leans into my space a little. “It is thrilling, the search, the chase, and the last phase; catching you.” He says the last part in a low whisper that has the hair on my skin rising, and my mouth dries. 

I have no idea what that means, but I feel hot. 

He smirks, pulling back, and the smug look on his face has me wondering what a younger Ethan might have been like in college. Did he play soccer? Lacrosse? Did the cheerleaders fall over themselves to talk to him? Was he the boy every girl in school wanted? 

The concept of him going through high school or college feels foreign. I can’t imagine it. He’s so manly, it’s hard to picture him as a child. 

“Grandmother called. They have decided on a date for our families to meet. How’s tonight for you? You invited your sister already. Was her response positive?” 

My body grows a little cold as I recall my last conversation with Anna. “I’m not sure she’ll 

come.” 

Ethan’s brow rises. “Why?” 

I fold my arms. “Nothing, she’s occupied.” 

Ethan’s eyes narrow as he studies me carefully, noting my body and its language. “You two having a fight? That’s why you’re crying?” 

“No,” I blurt. “Why would you think that?” 

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He shrugs. “Just a hunch.” 

“Well, we’re fine.” 

Ethan smiles at me. “Good. Shower and put on some clothes. We’re paying them a visit.” 

“No, why?” I ask, stuttering on the last word. 

A contemplative look crosses Ethan’s face. “For one, I would like to see your home, and I would like to meet your sister before dinner and whatever it brings. I’d like to make an impression before Rachel ruins it for me.” 

I want to laugh at that, but I can’t. It’s one thing to visit my sister who’s tagged me as an outsider, and it’s another thing to see Sean, who I can bet my savings he’s cheating on Anna. 

The excitement in Ethan’s eyes at the thought of meeting them has my heart fluttering a little, and I can’t say no to that. “Okay.” 

Chapter 27