“I don’t need you to come with me,” I said immediately. My voice was sharp and I could feel my pulse hammering in my throat.
My hand brushed his as I stepped back, putting space between us. His eyes flashed but he didn’t reach for me again. I turned and grabbed my purse from the table by the door, my hands trembling with frustration.
I couldn’t believe them, any of them, thinking I’d throw away everything I’d built just because I’d married into their precious family.
The one thing that I had built for myself in my life was my restaurant and it was truly the only thing that mattered for me, the audacity made me want to throw a punch at anyone that I could at the moment.
The driver was waiting outside. I walked past the front steps without looking back, the anger burning hot in my chest.
The car ride felt longer than it should have been. I kept fidgeting with the strap of my bag and checking my phone, trying to calm down.
The streets blurred by but all I could think about was how dare they, how dare they decide my life’s work was disposable.
When the car stopped, I stepped out and looked up at the familiar sign above my restaurant.
My chest swelled with something that almost hurt. This place was mine, every chipped tile, every table that wobbled a little, every smell of garlic and coffee and fresh bread.
I pushed open the doors and walked inside.
My staff was already bustling around, prepping for the lunch rush. They paused when they saw me.
Clara, my head chef, wiped her hands on her apron and smiled. Sam, the line cook, called my name with surprise. I stepped further in and gathered everyone by the front counter.
“I need to talk to all of you,” I said, raising my voice just enough to carry over the clatter of the kitchen. My eyes moved from face to face. “Things are changing. I won’t be here like I used to be but I want you all to know I chose you, I trust you, I love this place and I know you’ll take care of it.”
Clara nodded, her eyes misty. Sam looked down at his shoes and shuffled his feet. I felt a rush of emotion seeing how much they cared. “All I ask is that you stay kind, stay understanding with each other and don’t lose what makes this place special.”
I was hugging Clara when I heard someone clear their throat behind me.
I turned and froze. Andrew stood by the entrance, his hands in his pockets, that same easy grin on his face. My mouth fell open a little.
“Andrew?” I asked. I felt lightheaded. “What are you doing here? How did you even find this place?” I had almost forgotten about him since the last time I saw him when I was with Rick.
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Chapter 19
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He lifted one shoulder and looked around the restaurant like he was impressed, “business deal brought me here,” he said, smiling wider, “I saw you comr in here, I was almost certain I was seeing things.”
I laughed, shaking my head, “that’s just coincidence but it’s good, there was barely time to catch up the last
time we saw each other.”
He held out his hand in an exaggerated gentlemanly gesture, “come on. Let’s grab a drink for old times‘
sake.”
I hesitated but then let out a breath and took his hand. We slipped into the bar next door, one I knew well. The bartender gave me a nod as we sat down. Andrew ordered us both something sweet and easy. He lifted his glass in a mock toast.
“To fate,” he said, eyes glinting. “Because I wouldn’t have known you were married if you hadn’t told me. And God, did I have a crush on you.”
I nearly choked on my drink, laughing so hard I had to wipe tears from my eyes. “Andrew!” I scolded, but I couldn’t stop smiling. He laughed too, leaning back in his chair.
The rest of the time passed in a warm blur of old memories and jokes. My chest felt lighter than it had in days as I headed back out to the car. I stepped in, still smiling, thinking about how good it felt to remember who I was before all this chaos.
But when the driver pulled up to the house, everything shifted. The front door slammed open before I even set foot on the steps. Rick’s father stood there, face red, eyes wild. He pointed a trembling finger at Rick who was right behind him.
“I told you not to let her go freely like that!” Rick’s father barked. His voice cracked with rage. “And you didn’t listen to me. Now look at what she’s done, she’s shamed us!”
I stopped dead, my hand on the car door, heart pounding. My eyes flicked from one man to the other. “What?” I asked. My voice sounded small. “What’s going on? What did I do?”
Rick’s eyes found mine and they were darker than I’d ever seen. He was breathing hard, his fists clenched. His father kept yelling, words tumbling over each other. I stepped back, feeling panic crawl up my spine.
“What did I do?” I shouted this time. “Someone tell me what happened!”
Rick stormed down the steps. His eyes locked on mine. His face was tight with fury. He grabbed my wrist hard enough to make me cry out. “What are you doing? Let me go!” I gasped. His grip only tightened.
He pulled me into the house, slamming the front door shut so hard the walls rattled. He didn’t look back, dragging me through the hall. I stumbled, trying to keep up. “Rick, you’re hurting me,” I said, my voice shaking. “Please stop.”
He didn’t speak. His breath came out in short, angry bursts. He shoved open the door to his study and pulled me inside.
The door slammed shut behind us. He turned, pushing me up against the wall. His hands pinned mine above my head, his face inches from mine.
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Chapter 19
55 vouchers
“Explain this,” he growled. His voice was low and lethal as he pulled his phone out of his pocket with one
hand.
I sucked in a breath and turned my head. My eyes landed on the photo on his phone.
My blood ran cold. It was me and Andrew from earlier today, sitting in the bar. The angle made it look like our faces were almost touching, like we were kissing.
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