He Said I Was Cruel To Her But His Mind Cried For My Attention Chapter 08
Not long after, I got an invitation from Cole’s parents.
I figured they were tired of watching their son fall apart.
Even though Cole and I were done, his parents had always been good to me. Better than my own father, honestly.
I owed them an explanation.
But when I opened the private room door, they weren’t there.
Instead, I saw Cole. My dad. Cynthia. And Sierra.
Cole looked at me.
I heard his thoughts again:
[This is the last move I’ve got.]
[Please. Please work. Even if I have to force it. Just keep her here.]
[Keep her with me…]
My phone buzzed. A text from Cole’s parents:
[So sorry about this. We just can’t watch our son self-destruct anymore.]
[We couldn’t convince you ourselves, so we asked your family to help.]
They’d also sent me a small fortune as an apology.
I stared at the money. Whatever.
“I didn’t know you were this petty.” My dad glared at me the second he saw me.
“The invitations went out. The venue’s booked. And you want to call off the wedding over nothing?”
Cynthia jumped in. “You know Sierra gets bad cramps. Her brother-in-law giving her a ride is totally normal. You’re making a huge deal out of her sitting in the passenger seat.”
“A huge deal?” I laughed. “Getting told to strip on the interstate—that’s me making a huge deal?”
Cynthia forced a smile. “You can’t blame Cole for that. He was just joking around. You’re the one who took it seriously.”
“A joke?” My smile turned sharp. “When you were seducing my dad while he was still married to my mom, you kissed him and called it a joke, right?”
Cynthia went pale.
My dad slammed his hand on the table. “Watch your mouth. The wedding is not getting called off. Your mother and I both say no.”
Cole’s gaze snapped to him.
My dad kept going. “Tessa, if you embarrass this family, the Morgans won’t forget it. We agreed to this alliance. There’s no going back. You will marry him.”
Cole’s fists tightened.
I looked at my father. “And if I refuse?”
“You really think anyone else is gonna want damaged goods like you? Pregnant before marriage? A miscarriage?”
Cynthia and Sierra both laughed quietly.
Other relatives at the table exchanged meaningful looks.
I looked at Cole.
He looked back. Said nothing.
[I know this is a dirty move, babe. But it’s the only way I can keep you.]
I let out a quiet laugh.
Then I looked up, and my voice went cold.
“If I’m damaged goods, what does that make Cynthia? She had Sierra before you even married her, Dad. Isn’t she damaged goods too? You married two of them and treated them like queens. So what gives you the right to look down on your own daughter?”
Cynthia’s face went white.
“Unless… Sierra isn’t even yours?”
My dad shot up.
“You ungrateful brat!”
Glasses rattled on the table. He grabbed my arm and raised his hand to hit me—
“STOP!”
A body slammed between us.
SLAP.
The blow landed on Cole’s face instead. Blood beaded at the corner of his mouth.
My dad’s expression crumbled. “C-Cole…”
“Don’t.” Cole’s voice was hollow. Shaking. “I’ll do it. I’ll call off the engagement.”
My dad stopped breathing.
Cole turned to me. “I’m sorry… Is it too late for me to protect you now?”
I looked down and didn’t answer.
That was answer enough.
He laughed bitterly.
The dinner broke up in chaos. My dad and Cynthia rushed after Cole. He didn’t look back at them once.
He walked me out.
Julian’s car was already waiting at the curb. Zoey stuck her head out the window and waved. “Tessa! Over here!”
Cole looked at her. Then through the window at the man in the driver’s seat.
His eyes got red again.
“I used to think making you jealous was proof that you still loved me. I’d hold back from protecting you, even when you needed me.”
He swallowed.
“Guess I was wrong.”