Page 60 of Off-Limits Silver Fox Billionaire

“I think my husband’s having an affair,” she announced, and her words stopped the others still speaking in the background. “I think my husband is cheating on me with my daughter’s best friend,” she cried out.

“Stop her now, please,” I muttered to Josh, but he was already on the move approaching the front. He got to her when she broke into tears and dropped the mic to the ground.

All eyes were on me now, and I rubbed the back of my neck because of the flush of embarrassment coursing through me. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Iris. “I’m so sorry about this,” she said, then hurried to Josh and Jenny on the stage.

I watched with tears in my eyes as they led her away from the crowd while she sobbed. My dad was staring hard at me, and the tight clench of his jawline proved that this wasn’t over yet.

Feeling nauseous, I dashed out of the crowd and headed for my car parked outside. Iris and Josh were with Jenny when I walked past, and I heard her yelling my name as I got in my car and drove off.

I made it home before the nausea hit hard. I dashed into my bathroom and puked out my guts for three seconds straight before I felt better. The first ring on my door was Allison and she made me some peppermint tea after I let her in.

“This will help with the nausea,” she said to me when she came into my room with the mug of steaming tea. I took it from her, sipped, then shook my head. “I think Jenny hates me.”

“Jenny’s not in her right mind if you ask me,” Allison said as I gave her a stern look, so she sighed. “Fine that was insensitive. But come on, the woman cheated on her man first and now she’s out here crying that he’s cheating too? Besides, he’s not cheating, they are divorced but she doesn’t remember that. You have nothing to feel sorry or ashamed of.”

“I know. I know…It’s just.” I sighed, shook my head and wiped tears off my cheeks. “I thought I could do this. I thought I could stay here on the island and see him every time, but it’s difficult. I can’t do it, Allison. I think I have to go back to New York or anywhere else. Anywhere I can be far away from Josh.”

Allison was silent for a long time, then she put her hands around me and hugged me tight. We stayed in that embrace for a long time because she was warm, and we didn’t part till a soft knock rasped on my room’s door.

My dad walked in, and his earlier frown faded. “Can I get a minute?” he asked.

Allison looked at me, an unspoken question in her eyes. I nodded, then said. “It’s fine. I’ll talk to him.”

She left the room, and my dad came to sit on the edge of my bed. He stayed silent for a long time, simply looking at me until I broke down and went into his arms willingly. “Oh, dad.”

He hugged me, stroked my hair, then kissed the top of my head. “It’s alright baby, you should have told me,” he whispered near my ear as he consoled me. “You should have told me. I would have understood.”

“I didn’t know what to say,” I sobbed, and my shoulders trembled as the tears streamed down my face. “I fell in love dad and I just…I don’t know what to do right now.”

“You love Josh?” he questioned, his brows squashed together as I looked at his expression and nodded.

“It’s a little bit complicated,” I said, then went ahead to explain the entire situation with Jenny’s Alzheimer’s and the baby. He was in shock for a few minutes after I showed him the ultrasound scan and when he looked at me again, he was teary.

“I’m having a grandchild,” he stuttered before he squashed me into his arms again and made me laugh. “This is not how I wanted it to happen honey, but…”

“I know dad, and I’m sorry. It’s hard being here now, and even though I want to stay, I think I have to leave. That’s the only way I can get through this while staying strong and sane for the baby.”

“And Josh? You’re giving up on him?” He touched my hand after he asked, and tears stung my eyes again. I cried so much these days, but I could only blame that on the emotions.

“There was nothing to give up on dad. He made it clear that he couldn’t love me so there’s no hope.”

Talking with my dad that day made me feel better, and I was more relaxed when he finally left my bedroom so I could rest. I woke up later that evening to a text from Iris, so I Facetimed her.

“Hey, so sorry your reception was ruined because of me,” I apologized as soon as she took the call. She was dressed in her uniform and was trying to put on her shoes as she spoke. “You’re working already?”

“What? No, this is for role play, Francis and I are trying out something new in our hotel room before we fly out to Europe tomorrow.”

“Oh, that sounds fun.”

Iris seemed excited as she filled me in on her plans for a honeymoon and I loved that she was happy about this new phase of her life.

“How’s your mom?” I asked after a while.

“She’s alright. She cried a lot then she fell asleep. Dad says he’ll take care of her while I’m away. You don’t have to feel sorry for me, Bree, you didn’t ruin anything about today. It was perfect. Everyone I loved was there, and it’s only the after-party that was shortened but it’s just a party, so no big deal.”

Iris saying that made me feel better, so I sighed. “I love you Iris.”

“Love you to, Bree.”

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