Page 58 of Off-Limits Silver Fox Billionaire

Bree spun around and I watched her walk to her car and get in before I turned to Jenny and hugged her. “Let’s go inside,” I said to her, and led her into the house.

That night we had dinner as a family. Iris laughed a lot, and Jenny made her signature chicken soup that I had always loved. I finished my meal first and brought us wine.

That night we sat together in the living room and talked about Iris’s childhood. It felt great to relive the memories, and I loved seeing how Jenny lightened up. She barely remembered anything, and she thought Iris was sixteen years old, but it was the first time in years that Iris had beamed this much.

The only problem with this happy moment was that I wished someone else was here with us. I wanted to laugh with Bree like this and listen to her talk about fun memories.

I wanted to spend my time with her…And probably the rest of my life.

Oh boy,who was I kidding to think I couldn’t love her? I was in love with Bree, and it had happened without me realizing it.

* * *

I visitedRue’s bakery that night and sat in a corner to watch Bree after buying myself lots of scones that I didn’t even eat. Jenny loved scones, and she had asked me to buy some.

Iris’s wedding was in a few days and the emotions of giving away my only daughter were getting to me. It made me think of my life, and how much more I wanted to make out of it.

Bree was my second chance at love, and I had probably screwed it up. Now I was back with my ex-wife, pretending to be her husband again because it would make my daughter happy, and would also make Jenny happy.

It was horrible of me to keep thinking about Bree. I wasn’t really with Jenny, yes, and I couldn’t really be with her. I think deep down, Jenny could probably feel this. She was distant too, and I found myself waiting for her too.

I combed my fingers through my hair and sighed.What am I doing?

Why am I even here?I came here because I missed Bree. She seemed happy with the group of girls she was talking to, and Allison joined them at the table.

There was a lot of laughter, and I was watching her intently that I didn’t realize my phone was beeping on the table. I stayed there for a long time, and Bree’s father Phil spotted me when he came into the bakery.

“Hey Josh,” he greeted me when he got to my table. Josh sat opposite me, and we started talking about the wedding and also his new project here on the island.

“The mall building is going great. I think the community deserves to have something of that magnitude too, and the locals could also have their space there to sell their produce. I think it’s a great idea.”

Phil had many brilliant ideas, and we kept talking about them. I offered to collaborate with him on the mall project and we shook hands for a future partnership.

I left the bakery after a while and returned home with the scones. Jenny was sitting in the living room when I returned, and Iris was there with her too.

Jenny had tears stains on her cheeks, and she wiped them away when she noticed my presence.

“I’m so sorry you had to see that, Josh,” she said as she rose to her feet and tried to touch me. “It’s just that I’ve been so unhappy for a long time now and it’s like you’re never here. You’re always working and you’re no longer the man I fell in love with. This is not how I wanted to tell you, I’m so sorry, Josh.”

She wept profusely, but I stood in the same spot, shocked to the core by what was happening. Iris had mentioned memory lapses, but I didn’t think it could happen this fast and drastically.

Just a few hours earlier, she was lucid, and we had been happy. Now she was crying and reliving my worse memories.

“It’s alright,” I said to her, then went in and hugged her tight. “It’s alright, Jenny. It’s alright.”

She sobbed into my arms and Iris hugged herself tightly as she watched us. I whispered to Iris. “It’s going to be alright.”

Iris came close to join in the hug. We stayed that way for a long time, and Jenny’s tears subsided before I guided her up the stairs to her room so she could sleep.

Iris and I sat in the kitchen after that, and Iris touched my hand. “I’m sorry dad,” she said. “I never should have asked you to do this.”

I shook my head. “You shouldn’t apologize honey. Your mother and I, had our issues, and I was a big part of it. I spent so much time working and I failed to realize that I had neglected her. I hated what she did to me, but I must admit to you now that what really hurt the most is the fact that it was all my fault. I ruined us and I’m scared to do it again.”

“Again?” Iris angled her body, so she faced me squarely and her brows shifted upwards. “You’re in love?” she stammered.

“I am,” I admitted. “I tried to fight it, Iris and I hate to cause a rift between you and Bree, but this is it. I’m in love with her, and I think I let her believe that I couldn’t love her because I was too scared.”

“Oh dad,” Iris said, then hugged me. “This isn’t a terrible thing…It’s a good thing.” When she pulled back, I rubbed the back of my neck. “Look, I know I wanted you to make mom happy, but not at your own expense. If you love Bree then you should be with Bree. This was just a crazy idea from the start and right now we are walking around the house acting like we’re waiting for mom to die. I hate that…I don’t want things to be like that.”

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