He Said I Was Cruel To Her But His Mind Cried For My Attention Chapter 06
“Your… what?”
Cole stared at me like I’d slapped him.
Julian West spoke up. “You heard her, Mr. Harrison.”
“Shut up!”
Cole’s eyes went red. He grabbed Julian’s collar. “Who the hell do you think you are? Taking advantage of her when she’s vulnerable.”
“And who put her in that situation?”
That one sentence froze Cole solid.
Julian laughed coldly. “If my sister and I hadn’t driven by—do you know what the police said would’ve happened to her? The bushes. His car. His house. Every single one of those places would’ve become her personal hell.”
“Stop!” Cole’s hands were shaking violently. “Stop it…”
[That bald fuck… he really went after Tessa like that?]
[Why wasn’t I there?]
[Why did I drag this out?]
[How scared was she?]
[And I wasn’t there…]
[What the hell is wrong with me?]
[She called me. The watch I gave her only has my number in it. I wanted her to think of me first when something bad happened.]
[And my wife had to rely on strangers to save her.]
[Cole. What the fuck are you doing?]
His fists were trembling.
“You and your sister saved her. I’ll pay you back for that. But as her fiancé, I’ve got it from here.”
“Fiancé?” Zoey frowned. “You’re really Tessa’s fiancé?”
Cole looked at her, confused.
“Did you know she just had lost a baby? If you’re really her fiancé, why did you make her strip on the interstate in the freezing cold?”
“Lost a baby?” Cole’s eyes went wide as he turned to me.
I held the hand warmer and looked down, saying nothing.
His voice started shaking. “Wh-what? Tessa, when did you—how did you—”
I sipped the ginger tea Julian had brought. “I didn’t know either. Three days ago. We were fighting on the phone. I missed a step on the stairs. That’s how I found out.”
“So the last three days you’ve been…”
He couldn’t finish.
I nodded. “Yeah. Recovering.”
His thoughts turned into a roar of static.
I looked at him.
A single tear slipped down his face and hit the floor.
His voice was wrecked. “I’m sorry… I didn’t… I didn’t know…”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“No.” He grabbed my hand. “Tessa. I do worry about it. All those years together. I’m a fucking idiot. I’ll never do anything like this again. Let’s start over. I won’t fight with you anymore. Whatever you say, I’ll go along with it. Okay?”
His hand was shaking around mine.
Julian grabbed Cole’s wrist and pulled us apart.
“No.”
Cole’s eyes went cold.
“Mr. Harrison, Tessa’s told me about you. You’re not fit to be her husband.”
“You don’t get to call her Tessa.”
Cole grabbed Julian’s collar again. “You’ve known her for one day. I’ve had five years. Do you understand her better than me? Who the hell are you to lecture me? Playing the nice guy in front of her.”
“Enough, Cole!”
I pushed myself between them, ignoring the fact that my body was barely holding up.
Cole’s fist froze mid-swing. He looked hurt.
“Tessa… you’re really taking his side?”
I was cold. “Should I be taking yours?”
His eyes got wet.
“He saved my life, Cole. I’m not letting you hurt him.”
“Saved your life.” Cole laughed bitterly. “You’re still my fiancée. What is he? Some random guy who helped you once, and now he thinks he gets to have you?”
Julian’s breath caught.
“He’s no different from that pervert boss of yours!”
SLAP.
The sound cracked through the room.
Cole touched his face, stunned.
For five years we had an unspoken rule. He didn’t bring up my mom’s death. I didn’t hit him.
This was the first time I’d crossed that line.
“Cole!”
Sierra burst through the door. She ran to him, carefully examining his red cheek, then turned to me with fire in her eyes.
“Tessa! How could you hit your own fiancé over a stranger? Someone you’ve known for less than a day, and you’re already taking his side against Cole?”
Her voice got shrill. “Are you sure that baby you lost was even Cole’s? Or was it from you sneaking around with this guy?”
SLAP.
That one I put my whole body into.
Sierra hit the floor. Hand pressed to her cheek, staring at me in disbelief.
Zoey stuck out her tongue at her. “You deserved that. If Tessa hadn’t done it, I would have.”
Sierra’s eyes welled up. She looked up at Cole. “Cole…”
Cole looked at me. “Tessa…”
“Aren’t you going to tell me to apologize to her?”
Cole’s throat moved. His eyes got redder.