Page 141 of Bleeding Hearts Duet

“He sold the house on Belvedere Island,” she explained. “And he said that Jackson would have wanted me to have the money.”

“He sold it?” I repeated, tears brimming my eyes. “But… that was where he grew up. It was the only thing he had left…”

“That’s what I said.” Nicole shrugged. “But Ryland said it wasn’t home anymore. That without his family, it doesn’t feel right, and it never will.”

Shock resonated through my entire body at his decision. I could only imagine how difficult that must have been for him, and I wondered how he was handling it.

“Did he…” I cleared my throat and tried to wash away my emotion. “Did he look okay?”

“He looked… different,” she answered.

“Different, how?”

“I don’t know, he seemed kind of… defeated.”

“Oh.”

“He asked me to give you something too.” She pulled another envelope from her purse.

I took it between my shaky hands and tore off the seal, hoping it was a letter. Some kind of communication from him other than a text. I hoped he was getting better and that his anger really was gone. But did that mean he was moving on from me too?

I was disappointed when I shook out the contents and found another check. It was for twenty million dollars, and it was addressed to Sophia’s Shoes. My legs wobbled a bit, and I had to grip the counter to keep from falling over as I read through the paperwork.

It was a donation to the charity which stipulated that 50% of the monies would be deposited into my own personal account in order for me to run the foundation full time.

Nicole peeked over my shoulder and gasped as she saw the amount.

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “That’s…”

“Crazy?” I finished for her, setting the check down on the counter. “I can’t accept that.”

“Why not?” she asked. “It’s for the foundation. He obviously wants you to run it. And he probably wants you to feel like you have a steady income, Brighton. You’re having a baby.”

“Do you think that’s why?” I blinked up at her. “He’s paying me off?”

“What?” Her eyes widened. “Of course not. Where would you get that idea?”

I didn’t get to answer because there was a knock at the door. Nicole almost looked embarrassed as she moved to open it.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I invited Matt.”

I smiled at the blush on her cheeks. “Of course not.”

“Hey, Brighton.” He gave me a hug as he sauntered inside. “Nice to see you again. I can see the baby’s getting bigger.”

“It is.” I smiled and patted my bump.

“Well, I don’t know about you ladies, but I’m starving.”

“C’mon, grab a plate,” Nicole urged. “You’re eating for two now.”

***

We were sitting on the sofa watching TV, and I couldn’t help but notice that Matt and Nicole were getting closer and closer as the evening went on.

He’d wrapped his arm around her twenty minutes ago, and now they were even holding hands. It was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen, but at the same time, it was making the emptiness in my chest ache.

I was about to excuse myself to bed when the doorbell rang again, and I shot Nicole a questioning glance. “Are you expecting anyone else tonight?”

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