Page 172 of The Sweetest Devotion

I snorted. “Go fuck yourself.”

Cain briefly smiled before circling me to leave.

“Kennedy?” I turned, catching him watching me soberly. “I’m sorry.”

Firmly, I nodded.

Cain turned and disappeared around the corner. In the background I heard the front door open and shut. Just like that, he was gone out of my life.

36

Stepping backinto my father’s office, I found him undone with a loosened tie. Keith was sitting back in his chair, no longer rigid, but somewhat relaxed. My mother was on the chesterfield, calm as well.

As much as I wanted to question what had gone on while I dealt with Cain, I thought better of it.

I went and scooped up my purse from my chair and eyed Keith. “Okay, let’s go.”

Keith stood and brought his hand to my waist, prepared to help me out of the house.

“Wait,” my father spoke up just as we made it to the door.

My back stiffened as I turned and glanced at him. “Something you need?”

He frowned, looking to my mother and then to Keith. “Please…give me a moment alone with Kennedy.”

Keith looked to me, needing confirmation that this was what I wanted. If I wanted to walk, he’d hold my hand all the way out to his car. I loved that about him. It wasn’t about my father’s word, but mine.

I nodded, needing to hear what my father had to say.

Keith and my mother stepped out into the hall and shut the door.

Instead of sitting across from my father again, I remained standing by the door.

Lifting my chin, I held my head high, keeping with my stance to go. “What do you want?”

My father sighed. “Look, let’s not leave things like this.”

“I took what mattered most to me and I left the penthouse. You can donate the rest of my things to charity or Goodwill. Either way, I have no use for them.”

My father sank in his chair. “Don’t do that. The engagement is done. Over. No need for the antics.”

“Antics?” I repeated through gritted teeth. “Fuck you, Dad.”

“Okay, hold up. Wait,” my father pleaded as I made an attempt to leave. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m not mad about Keith. It needed to happen.”

“I don’t care if you are mad. It’smylife.”

“I thought I was doing something right by you,” my father said.

“By holding my inheritance over my head? By making choices for me? By ignoring whatIwanted?” I snapped.

“I just thought I had your best interest at heart, and I was wrong.”

My best interest would never be marrying me off to some man I didn’t know.

“For the first time in my life, I can’t trust you,” my voice cracked but I braved through it, needing to get my hurt off my chest. “I looked up to you like a hero, and you fell farther than your condition could ever allow. Youhurtme, Daddy.

“You put me through the most traumatic experience I’veevergone through, and for what, to capitalize on a casino you don’t even need?” I was so hurt at the betrayal I could’ve cried, but I refused to shed another tear. “I don’t care that it’s over, what you did will never sit right with me, and I’ll never forget.”

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