Page 72 of Falling For You

I let out a shaky breath, and the tears I’d held back finally spilled over. “It doesn’t matter. It’s done. You’ve made your choice.”

Owen took another step toward me, but I couldn’t bear to look at him anymore.

I turned away.

As I felt the weight of everything crashing down around me, my heart was shattering into a million pieces.

“Violet, please,” he said quietly. “I didn’t want it to be like this.”

“But it is,” I said, my voice shaking. “And now my family’s going to lose everything because of you. Maybe not this year or next, but it’s coming because of you.”

“You don’t know that.”

“That’s always how it works. You big guys come in and think you can kick us little guys around. We’re just game pieces to you. But my family means something to me.” I shook my head. “But you’ve been clear as day from the first time I met you. Business was your number one, and you just proved it.” The tears had been replaced with anger. “But in my world, family is number one, and I’ll make you pay.”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

The weight of our shared heartbreak pressed down on me like a heavy fog.

Owen’s breath hitched as he tried to find the right words, but there was nothing left to say.

I couldn’t even look at him.

After a moment, I heard him take a step back. “I’ll leave you alone,” he said softly, his voice broken. “I… I don’t expect you to forgive me.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I just stood there, staring out at the fading sunlight.

Feeling like the ground had been pulled out from under me, all I wanted to do was collapse.

I heard him walk away, his footsteps growing fainter until they disappeared completely. And then I was alone.

The grumble of his truck as he turned and left our property left a gaping hole. I had so much confusion and embarrassment riddling me with every passing breath.

How did I fall for it? I’d been seasoned to watch out for men like him. I knew better than to be swayed by a few kind words and a couple of glances in my direction.

I felt the cold sting of betrayal settle deep in my chest. Owen was gone, but the devastation he had left behind was still there, hanging in the air like a dark Wisconsin storm cloud. It almost felt like a tornado would strike next, and I wouldn’t even notice.

I didn’t know how to fix any of it.

My parents would be crushed when they found out about the sale.

Our lodge, our family’s legacy, would be overshadowed by whatever monstrosity Owen and his partners planned to build next door.

And all I could think about was how I’d trusted him. I’d let myself believe that he could be part of my world.

I knew our relationship would start slow and ride out the waves.

I believed we had enough of a connection to give it a go and see where it went… and then to find out, I’d been fooled. The connection had been a manufactured mess of emotions, and I fell for it.

I sank down onto the porch steps, burying my face in my hands as the tears came harder and harder.

I had let Owen into my lifeand heart.

For the first time in a long time, I felt completely lost. And I didn’t know if I’d ever find my way back.

But I knew one thing. I didn’t just get mad. I got even, and Owen would get his.

Chapter Nineteen

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