Page 106 of It Must Be Fate

After my mom’s ninth attempt at getting clean since Rhys and I started dating, I had hope that things had changed for the better. This time, she’d been sober for over a year. She had a consistent job in a diner, a new apartment, and she attended meetings. We were in regular contact via FaceTime and she looked well. Better than she had in a long time.

It wasn’t the first time I thought things would be different. It had happened before, countless times. But I felt this time wasthetime. She’d taken steps she never had before and I was older, wiser, more adept at spotting the lies if they were there, more guarded against the hurt if it came. Or so I thought.

I’d let my guard down and put my trust forward.

She’d made me pay for that gullibility in spectacular fashion by showing up to Ivy’s birthday high as a kite and stinking of cheap vodka.

I’d cried for days afterwards, absolutely shattered by this newest betrayal. Rhys had seen me through that particular heartbreak like he had every other before it, steadfast and loyal as ever. But I’d seen how my pain had hardened him, chiseling his anger to stone inside him.

That was a year ago and I’d barely talked to my mom since. I heard from Nolan that she’d gotten clean again in that time, but I no longer believed it.

Given the context, I can understand why Rhys would seek to distance me from a tenth relapse.

He stares at me with eyes gauging for my reaction and a softness on his features that completely undoes me.

“I didn’t want you carrying that burden anymore. I’ve helped her through every relapse before this one and I’ll continue to do so until it sticks, because one day it will. There’s no reason for you to put yourself through that pain over and over again when I can take it on for you.” He reaches up to cup my face, brushing a fresh tear off my cheek like it was never there. “I was with her for three days making sure her intake was done correctly. She’s well taken care of. She’s safe.”

He pulls out his phone and shows me a picture he took of her room. I can’t help but spot the fresh flowers on the bedside table.

Lilies, her favorite.

It’s not hard to guess whose thoughtful attention resulted in those flowers being in her room.

“We’ve done this before, her and I. We have a bit of a routine. But that was before. She hurt you and she could have hurt our daughters so she needs to change. I didn’t go easy on her. I think this time it’ll be different.” The corners of his eyes tighten. “I’m sorry for lying to you,” he repeats. “You’re loud and you’re funny and you’re joyful and when she makes you quiet and sad and mournful, I see red. I only wanted to take all your pain away, not inadvertently cause you more hurt.” He reaches up and laces my throat in a possessive gesture, his pupils flaring. “What I didn’t lie about is the fact that I thought about you the entire time I was gone. I understand that my lies made me look suspicious, but cheating?” His hand tightens around my throat. “What do you imagine I’d have been looking for when you’ve already given meeverything? I’d sooner cut off a limb than ever touch anybody else. And I’d sooner never make another sound again than laugh with someone else. I’m wholly devoted to you—I have been for the last fifteen years and I will be for thenext sixty, until we’re old and wrinkly and watching our great-grandchildren grow up together.”

I dig my palms into my eyes, hoping the pressure will stop the tears from flowing freely like they have been the entire time he’s been speaking. It’s a useless endeavor — they keep streaming down my face no matter how hard I try to stop them.

I can’t see him but I can feel his anxiety. His uncertainty. It ripples off him in thick waves that crash against me.

“Are you angry with me for lying to you?” His hands come down on my thighs and run up and down my flesh soothingly. “You have every right to be. I promised you I would never lie to you again.”

I shake my head vehemently, still crying.

I’ve been so stupid. And the relief is so fucking monumental, I can’t seem to control my emotions.

We don’t have to break up. I don’t have to learn to live without him.

Thankgod.

A fresh sob rips from my mouth.

“No.” I hear his breath catch on his lips. “Thank you for always protecting me.” Wiping my eyes with the back of my sleeves, I finally look at him once more. He’s where I left him, kneeling before me like a priest would get on his knees before God, every inch of him attuned to and waiting for my reactions. “I feel foolish for accusing you now. I really thought you were cheating on me. I–I couldn’t believe it, but you lied… and then you said nothing when I confronted you.”

His hands tighten painfully on my thighs. “I didn’t speak because I physically couldn’t. I couldn’t get around the shock jamming my throat closed that you’d believe I wouldevercheat on you.” His voice deepens with fresh anger. “And the second wife dig? That was vicious,” he growls. His fingers find my rings, pushing them down until the metal digs painfully into thewebbing. “Take these off one more time, Silver, and I’ll be forced to intervene so you can never do it again. I’ll find a doctor who’ll fuse them directly to the bone of your finger for me.” He pulls me towards him until my ass is hanging off the edge of the chair, his hands caressing my skin back and forth in a vaguely threatening fashion. “I’m nice, love, but push me again and we’ll see how much you like my reaction to your provocation.”

The guilt eats at me. I’m the one who fucked up this time, accusing him of the worst betrayal when the whole time he was acting as my biggest protector.

Softening at the expression on my face, he adds, “You’re my family and I love you.”

“How I’ll ever get you to forgive me, I don’t know. I’m s—”

“Forgiven.”

His interruption slices through my words before I can even get the apology out.

“But—”

“You’re forgiven.”

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