Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Valerie
My heart hurt as Lucas left. But I’d asked him to.
I needed time to figure this out. I’d figured my mother and sister would be upset.
Frankly, I didn’t care. My father deserved everything coming his way.
What was funny was Lucas mentioning my father’s mistress, and my mother and sister didn’t even react.
Yeah, my mother knew he was cheating. As for Kendall, she always did wear blinders. When my phone rang, I glanced at the screen. “Hey, Cassie.”
“Damn girl, you know how to create some chaos. I’m loving it that your father is getting what he deserves.”
I smiled for the first time in days. “I’m glad someone is.”
“Oh, shit. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t take such glee in your pain.”
“I’m more disappointed than anything. But not surprised.” Funny, deep down I was beyond disappointed that my father was such an idiot and that my mother and sister took his side against me. But enough was enough.
“That says a lot. Do you need some company?”
“Aren’t you at the pub with everyone?”
“Yeah, but I’ll leave if you need someone to talk to.”
My heart warmed. I’d made some good friends at Fantasies, Inc. “No, please, don’t.”
“All right. But I’m going to check on you this weekend.”
“Thanks, Cassie. Have a drink for me.” Cassie was such a good friend.
Not wanting to be disturbed, I put my phone on silent.
My mother and sister weren’t going to stop their tirade.
I pulled a bottle of wine out of fridge and carried it and a glass out onto the patio and sat down.
I needed to unwind a bit. The next week wasn’t going to be fun.
After the meeting with law enforcement, I knew they’d arrest my father and his accomplice.
I just didn’t expect it to have been so fast.
John called me before my mother and sister arrived, asking me to continue at FI for next week instead of just Monday. Legal wanted me on hand if they needed more information. My insides twisted. Once that was done, I’d be leaving Lucas.
Pain hit me. I’d fallen for Lucas again. It hadn’t been hard. Lucas wasn’t like my father or other men in my life. At every turn, he rebuked my family, even today. He stood up for me, not because I was his responsibility, but because he cared.
Damn, I needed to figure out my own insecurities before I could talk with Lucas. That might take more time than I wanted. Or maybe not. I had another appointment with the psychologist next week, and that would be a perfect time to talk out everything that happened with my father.