Chapter 45
SYLVIE
Isat alone in the main room of the lodge by the stone fireplace, letting the nostalgia wash over me in waves. The massive Christmas tree glittered beside the fireplace, its lights reflecting off the ornaments.
The fire crackled and popped, sending occasional sparks up the chimney. The lodge was silent except for those sounds. All of the guests had retired to their rooms for the evening.
Normally, I would go home to my place after a long day. I liked the silence and being alone after spending a day taking care of customers and dealing with the guests at the lodge. But I couldn’t bring myself to go home just yet.
I only had two weeks left of my last Christmas at the lodge.
Two weeks before everything changed forever.
The truth of that was devastating in a way that made it hard to breathe.
I wouldn’t have the option of sitting in front of the fireplace in the only home I knew.
My heart squeezed just thinking about the inevitable.
I heard footsteps and looked up to see Emmy walking into the room, still in her work clothes from her shift at the café.
“Can I join you?” she asked softly.
I nodded, grateful for the company. Emmy settled into the chair beside mine, pulling her feet up underneath her like she always did when she was getting comfortable for a real conversation.
“I heard through the grapevine about the offer,” she said. “The real offer. Are you okay?”
“No,” I admitted. “But I’m working on it.”
Emmy was quiet for a moment, just sitting with me in a comfortable silence only best friends could share. “Maybe you’ll meet a hot Australian guy who makes you forget all about Kent Bancroft.”
“I’ve already forgotten about him,” I said, but the lie sounded hollow even to my own ears.
“Yeah right.” Emmy gave me a knowing look. “Sylvie, you haven’t caught feelings for a guy in years. I saw the way you looked at him. You were hopeful, and he stomped on your hope and walked away. It sucks.”
I admired how Emmy could always state the facts plainly while somehow making me feel better at the same time. She didn’t coddle me or tell me what I wanted to hear. She just told me the truth with enough kindness that it didn’t sting quite as much.
“I really thought he was different,” I said quietly. “I thought maybe he actually cared.”
“Maybe he did. Maybe he does. But caring about someone doesn’t mean much if you’re not willing to choose them over the things that are easier or more comfortable.”
That stung. Because that was exactly what Kent had done. He’d chosen his family’s expectations over doing the right thing.
Over me.
“Yeah, but I guess it doesn’t matter now, does it?”
“I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“How is the rest of the family taking the news?”
I sighed and shook my head. “It’s a weird feeling, you know? Dad already told us this would be our last Christmas with the farm and the lodge, so we already knew that was coming. But now, it’s just all gone.”
“I don’t want to sound crass, but did I hear correctly about the money you’ll be paid?”
I snorted. “The amount of money is crass.”
“The money should definitely help soothe the pain,” Emmy said gently. “I mean, with that kind of cash, you could do whatever you want. Go anywhere, be anyone.”
I knew she was right. Two hundred million dollars was more money than I could even wrap my head around. It was the kind of wealth that could buy freedom, adventure, endless possibilities. But that didn’t make me feel any better about losing everything that actually mattered to me.
“Money can’t buy everything,” I said, staring into the fire. “It can’t buy back our family history. It can’t replace the memories we’ve made in this place. It can’t give me back the future I thought I was going to have.”
“No, but it could buy you a pretty amazing trip to Australia,” Emmy said with a small smile. “And hey, if you’re going to be rich, maybe we could hit Scotland too. You could see those castles you’re always talking about.”
Despite everything, I felt my lips curve into the first genuine smile I’d managed all day. Emmy had always been able to find the silver lining even in the darkest moments. “You’re already planning our world tour?”
“Someone has to. You’re too busy wallowing to think practically.” She nudged my shoulder playfully. “Come on, admit it. The idea of seeing the Scottish Highlands doesn’t sound terrible. Find yourself a man with a long… kilt.”
For just a moment, I let myself imagine it. Emmy and me, backpacking through Europe with unlimited funds and no responsibilities tying us down. Visiting every castle and cathedral I’d ever dreamed of seeing. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to start over somewhere completely different.
But then reality crashed back in, and I shook my head firmly.
“No way,” I said. “I don’t want a penny from him.”
Emmy’s eyebrows shot up. “Sylvie, be reasonable. It’s two hundred million dollars.”
“I don’t care if it’s two billion dollars. That money comes from destroying everything my family built. It’s blood money, Emmy. I won’t touch it.”
“What about your family?” she asked.
“What about them?”
“Think about your parents,” she said gently. “That money could set them up for an amazing retirement. They could travel, relax, never worry about money again. And Brom and Stacy could start fresh somewhere else, maybe open a new lodge in a place that actually gets tourists.”
I stared into the fire, watching the flames dance over the logs.
Part of me knew Emmy was right. The money would solve a lot of problems for my family.
Dad could finally stop worrying about keeping the business afloat.
Brom and Stacy could give Aspen and Alder opportunities we’d never had growing up in such an isolated place.
But accepting that money felt like accepting what Kent had done to us. It felt like saying his lies were okay because they came with a big enough payout.
“I can’t, Emmy,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “Every time I’d spend a dollar of that money, I’d think about him. About how he looked me in the eye and lied to me while planning to destroy my home. I’d think about how stupid I was to trust him.”
“You weren’t stupid.”
“I was,” I insisted. “I was so desperate for someone to save us that I ignored every warning sign. I let him into my bed while he was planning to kick us out of our home. How is that not stupid?”
Emmy was quiet for a long moment. “What if the family votes to take the deal anyway?” she asked. “What if they decide the money is worth it?”
I hadn’t even considered that possibility. What if Dad and Brom and Stacy all decided that two hundred million dollars was too much to turn down? What if they wanted to take the deal despite everything Kent had done to us?
“Then I guess I’ll have to live with their decision,” I said finally. “But I won’t be happy about it.”
“And Kent?” Emmy asked carefully. “What happens with him?”
My chest tightened at the mention of his name. “What about him?”
“Are you really never going to speak to him again? Never going to let him explain or apologize or—”
“There’s nothing to explain,” I cut her off. “He lied to me from the moment we met. He let me fall for him while knowing he was going to destroy everything I love. What possible explanation could make that okay?”
“Maybe he didn’t mean for it to happen that way. Maybe he really did fall for you too, and things got complicated.”
I shook my head firmly. “It doesn’t matter what he meant to happen. It matters what he did. And what he did was unforgivable.”
Emmy sighed. “I just think—”
“I’m ready to call it a night,” I said, standing up. The weight of the day was catching up with me, and all I wanted was to crawl into my bed and forget this entire disaster had happened.
Emmy stood too, linking her arm through mine as we walked toward the lodge entrance. “Dad’s waiting for me at Santa’s cabin. We’re heading back to our place in town.”
We stepped out into the cold night air. I walked with her as far as the path that split. One direction led to Santa’s cabin, the other to my apartment above the garage.
“Call me if you need anything,” Emmy said, giving me a fierce hug. “I mean it. Three in the morning, doesn’t matter. I’m here.”
“I know. Thank you.”
We parted ways, and I headed across the driveway toward my apartment, I was fishing my keys out of my pocket when I looked up and froze.
Kent was leaning against my front door, waiting for me.
My heart lurched with a mixture of anger and hurt. He looked terrible. His hair was disheveled, his eyes were red-rimmed, and he was swaying slightly in a way that suggested he’d had way too much to drink.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice colder than the winter air around us. “My father banned you from the property.”
“I came to apologize.”
“You’re drunk.”
“Very,” he admitted.
“Go away.”
“No.”
I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t surprised. The man was used to getting what he wanted. He didn’t care what anyone else thought. It was all about him. All about what he wanted.