Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94094 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
I’ll be honest. I’m angrier with him than I’ve ever been. I love my father despite all the shit between us. I was devastated to overhear him and Sid earlier this evening.
I could forgive the situation with Wade, I might be able to get over his meddling once I understand what he’s been thinking, but to hide the fact he’s been unwell. That’s something I’m going to struggle with.
“You’re my oldest. I wanted to talk to you first. I’ve wronged you the most.”
“Why would you keep this from us?”
“I don’t plan to allow this to take me away from the family I love. I still have work to do here,” he says firmly.
“You said the new treatment is working, but what if it hadn’t?”
“That was never an option. The moment I found out, I knew I would fight. I have too much to live for. I wanted to see all my boys happy. I wanted to hold my grandchildren, but most of all, I wanted to erase the monster you boys seem to see me as.”
Addison thought she could fight for Chloe and look how that turned out. I grind my teeth. This was so selfish of him, of her. I wonder did either of them think of their children they’d leave behind.
I furrow my brows and look down into my palms. If anyone could cheat death it would be the man before me. I think over his words and frown.
“I never saw you as a monster.”
“Sure, you did. You don’t have to lie to spare my feelings. I know I come off as a bastard. However, as a father yourself, I believe you may now understand the things I’ve done.”
“You’ve known about Cane’s marriage,” I say.
“Yes, I didn’t expect him to find someone so soon, but when I found out, I was pleased. Her troubles concerned me, but I’ve kept an eye on things. Cane has become the man I knew he could be in order to protect her. In the end, I’ll have two birds crushed with one stone.”
“I figured as much. Old deal gone bad?”
“You have no idea. You boys thought I didn’t want you to become men. That’s not it at all.
“I didn’t want the world out there to eat my children alive. I tried to guide you all, but when you boys wanted to do it on your own, I watched proudly as you all rose from the ashes of my tight grip.
“However, I couldn’t watch without interference. When my enemies decided to make themselves yours, I’ve blocked any harm I thought would destroy your success. No matter the cost.
“A lot has been Clay, but I’ve boxed with the bigger threats on all of your behalf. I have regrets and a failure or two.”
“What failure?” I ask and lift a brow.
“Addison and Cee.”
I ball my fists at my side as I start to fume. He has to be out of his damn mind if he thought Addison was right for me. He holds a hand up as he begins to cough.
In the past, this cough hadn’t concerned me much. Now, knowing what I know, my chest tightens. I rush to pour him a glass of water from the pitcher on his bar.
“Thank you,” he says as he takes the glass and drains it. “You have the wrong idea.”
He pauses to take a seat behind his desk. I watch him, noticing this isn’t the vibrant man I once feared standing up to. Time has passed and so much has changed.
“I wanted to protect you from Addison. I saw that woman for the demon she was. I hadn’t known how far she would take her treachery, but I knew she would be an issue.
“I didn’t know I was too late when I set things in motion for you to find your way back to Chloe. Although I’m well aware that I failed the two of you well before Addison entered the picture. I’m truly sorry, Gregor.
“I wish I could do it all over. I was so wrong. I deserved my losses, you did not.”
“And Clay, you knew about Sidney?”
His eyes light up. “I did. He was going to lose her with that contract foolishness. It was my hope a marriage would force him to see what was in front of his eyes. Everything else just happened to work in my favor. Wade has done well looking after you all.
“I never kept the truth about him from you boys to hurt you. Your mother wasn’t ready to accept him into our family. I did the best I could to respect her wishes and take care of my boy.
“Evelyn had no children of her own. She was close enough, yet far enough to help me make things work. You are lucky to have Cee. Her love for Chloe is rare.”