Chapter 48 #2
“I couldn’t just stand by and let you face today alone,” Cole says, snuggling into my neck before placing a chaste kiss on my lips, and looking from me to my dad, moving me to his side, wrapping his arm around my waist protectively.
“I hope you don’t mind, sir, but I was eavesdropping and overheard your conversation.
From what I gathered, Stephanie revealed her true nature. ”
My heart melts in my chest because he sounds so levelheaded and I can’t believe he came back even when he was told to stay away. He’s fighting for me, and I love him even more for it.
“Did she cheat on you, son?” my father asks.
“Yes. With my best friend,” Cole replies matter-of-factly.
As though planned, Luca walks out of the entrance of the secret garden, his head thrown back, laughing with Stephanie trailing behind him, looking like she’s been fucked seven ways to Sunday—which she has, but she’s about to get really fucked. By my father, and not in the way she would like.
“Holy shit,” Cole mutters under his breath. “What’s he doing here?”
“You’re about to find out,” I say through the side of my mouth as the caterers and wedding planner move like ants all around. Little do they know they’re about to be told to pack everything up and go home. I point to Luca. “Eh, Dad, FYI, that’s the best friend.”
Stephanie and Luca both halt in their tracks, looking guiltier than a criminal on the stand.
“What the hell is going on here?” Stephanie’s face turns thunderous when she sees Cole, while Luca’s laughter stops dead in the air.
She points at Cole. “Tell him to leave. Right this very minute, Hugh.” She stomps her foot against the grass like a petulant child.
“No,” my dad says firmly. “However, it is time for you to leave, Stephanie.”
Her face pales, and she stutters out, “Wh-what?”
“Get in your car, get out of my life. And take your loser boyfriend with you. I’ll send your things to an address of your choosing. Although, where is that exactly?”
“Go, Hugh! I think I might like your dad after all,” Cole says, in a whisper meant only for my ears.
“But I don’t have anywhere to go,” she whines.
“Oh, my heart bleeds for you.” Dad places his hand over his chest mockingly.
“You should have thought about a plan B just in case things didn’t work with us then, huh?
Maybe think about that for the next time when you try to rob someone blind.
” My dad looks over my head and motions to someone behind me.
“Kane, Dante, can you please escort these two off my property? Thank you.”
My father’s bodyguards nod in acknowledgment and make a beeline for the two sharks who tried to swindle my father out of everything he owns.
“You can’t do this,” Stephanie squeals as Kane wraps his hand around her upper arm, followed by Luca’s wrestling match with Dante, but he doesn’t stand a chance against the man who is as big as a house, and Dante simply throws his arm up Luca’s back, making him squeal like a piggy before giving in and walking in the direction Dante shoves him.
My dad’s next line shoots daggers through Stephanie’s heart. “The wedding is off, just in case you didn’t get the memo. Everyone, stop what you’re doing,” he bellows, making everyone freeze. “Pack up all this shit and get it out of my garden.”
“You will pay for this,” Stephanie screams, spitting blue murder over her shoulder, Kane’s grip tightening around her to prevent her from wiggling free.
“Try your luck, sweetheart.” Dad’s voice is steady and even but I can tell he’s hurting from the sadness in his eyes. “But I’m sure your dad will have a lot to say about that.”
She turns a ghostly white color. “Don’t you dare call him.”
“So everything I heard was true. Her dad really did cut her off, and he’ll cut her out of her inheritance completely if he gets a whiff of this,” Cole says, sounding like he’s already considering informing Stephanie’s father. If he doesn’t, I sure as hell will.
“She’d just confessed to Luca before you arrived about how he’s cut her off and stopped her allowance,” I reply, telling him everything I overheard just minutes ago.
“I bet that was to teach her a lesson. He always did maintain that it would happen one day, and she was to be prepared.” Cole ponders to himself more than me.
Then when her daddy followed through on his promise, she chose to try to scam older men out of their riches to make a quick buck instead of working hard for it. What a clever girl. Silly, but also smart.
When Cole tells me how smart I am, I think he is wrong. Stephanie seems to have planned the whole thing, and she wasn’t just determined; she was patient, waiting for the moment to strike.
“She’s a predator,” Cole asserts.
“She’s a loony tune, is what she is.” Dad bursts out laughing as Stephanie screams obscenities his way, giving Kane so much grief that he picks her up and throws her over his shoulder, which makes her scream even louder and punch his back. Not that he cares; Kane is stronger than a fortress.
Then she’s gone, leaving just the three of us standing amongst the wedding setup crew as they begin to dismantle everything.
“What a fucking day.” My dad pushes his hands through his hair. My mom might claim that I get my thick locks from her side of the family, but my dad still has a full head of dark hair. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t swear.” He never does.
“So where am I taking you kids out for lunch to celebrate?”
“What are we celebrating?” Cole asks curiously, and I want to rip off the hideous pink tie he is wearing from around his neck. But I love how he was literally going to do anything to show up for me today.
“The baby of course,” my dad responds, his brow wrinkling.
Oh shit.
“Stephanie’s baby? What?” Cole scratches his head.
I grab his hand in mine and place it over my stomach. “No. Our baby, Cole.”
His eyes widen in shock. “You’re pregnant?”
I nod my head excitedly.
“Oh, hell, did I put my foot in the surprise?” Dad asks, sounding worried.
I ignore him and stare into Cole’s eyes.
“You confused me when you were leaving and said something yesterday about Stephanie’s baby, but then I worked out you must have overheard Dad telling me to calm down because it would upset the baby.
But it was my baby he was referring to. Our baby, Cole, and I didn’t want to tell you when everything went sideways last night.
I was waiting to tell you when the time was right, like last night over dinner. ”
“And I told you to cancel it.”
“Yes.”
My dad interjects, saying, “The only reason I knew was that your mother called me to lecture me. She told me to watch over you this weekend because you were feeling fragile, to prevent you from drinking, and that you were carrying a secret. She wasn’t very subtle.”
Typical Mom.
I worry for a beat but then my concern is obliterated when Cole’s entire face lights up, a huge smile curving his lips. Then he lifts me into the air and spins me around as he whoops and cheers in celebration.
“Sometimes the pill isn’t one hundred percent effective,” I say in a rush. I knew that, of course I did. I only read that on the packaging the other day, just to make sure. “It’s a bit of a whoopsie.”
“It’s the best whoopsie and I’m so happy the pill isn’t effective.
I’m going to be a dad,” he shouts at the top of his lungs, and any doubts I had about him not wanting a baby disappear into the ether.
I had nothing to worry about. “We’re having a baby,” he repeats while arching his neck back and hollering with joy.
My dad claps his hands together as everyone else around joins in too. “And I’m going to be a grandaddy.”
I’ve never seen my dad so excited before, and I wish my mom were here to celebrate with us.
“With all my heart, I love you, Cole Hart.”
“And I love you too, baby. And our little peanut.”