Page 66 of The Next Mrs. Parrish

“Jake Crawford never did like to get his hands dirty. Thought he was above the fray, better than everybody else. Mr. Honest Abe. But don’t kid yourself. He was a shrewd businessman. He would never have let such an opportunity pass him by. You shoulda taken that offer, Daisy Ann. When you refused, well, that’s when I knew I wanted out, and when that Bennett woman came to me, I thought, why the hell not. Sure as hell ain’t gonna make any money holding on to this stock.” He sat down at his desk.

“You’re wrong, Wade. But you’re too foolish to understand why. That’s the difference between you and my daddy. He was a wise and honorable man. You? You’re a sleazy parasite. All you care about is Wade Ashford and what’s good for him. That’s the mark of a true good for nothing.”

Wade looked at her with contempt. “I think we’re finished here, Mrs. Briscoe.”

“Oh, Wade, you have no idea how very true that is.” She gave him a contemptuous smile and swept out of the room.

– 41 –

DAPHNE

When I go downstairs for breakfast, I’m surprised to see only Jackson at the table. It’s just a few minutes after seven.

“Where is everyone?”

He doesn’t answer right away, just glares at me; then he clears his throat. “I had Chloe take them to breakfast before camp. I wanted to speak with you in private.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

He lifts his hand from the table, and it’s then that I see it. My cell phone. What is he doing withit?

“You’re seeing someone.”

Dread fills me. “Why do you have my phone?” I ask, stalling.

“It was in Bella’s room. She was playing Candy Crush on it this morning.”

I groan. Bella has a habit of “borrowing” my phone. I should have been more careful. She knows my password, so I know what’s coming next.

“Your texts make very interesting reading. Who’s Sebastian?”

I blow out a breath. “He’s just a friend.”

Jackson raises his eyebrow. “Really?” He begins to read out loud.Can’t wait until you’re back again and we can take that trip to Carmel. Our first weekend away together. I want to fall asleep with you in my arms and wake up to your beautiful face.You answered that you can’t wait either.” He shakes his head. “Shall I continue?”

“No. I, you know, I-I…” I stumble over my words, scrambling to figure out the best approach. “I know what it might look like, but to be fair, I didn’t know you and I were going to get back together.”

Jackson gives me a scorching look. “Have you fucked him?”

I recoil. “No. Of course not. It’s new. Like I said, he’s just a friend.”

His face is red, a tornado brewing behind his eyes. “He sounds like way more than a friend. Waking up together? I can’t believe a word out of your filthy lying mouth. Here I am, trying to put our family back together, and you’re messaging with some man behind my back. What kind of a slut have you turned into?”

“Jackson, please. Stop. I swear, I’ll end it with him. It’s nothing.”

He stands up. “Trust me on this. I am never giving these children up. I had hoped that the four of us could be a family again. But if it has to be a family of three, I guess I’ll settle for that.” He hands me my phone, leaning over as he presses his hands onto my shoulders and brings his face so close to mine that we’re almost touching. “End it. Now,” he hisses.

—

Jackson’s been gone all day, which in one way is a relief but in another way is worrying because I wonder what he’s up to. I’ve been too anxious and troubled to do much more than ramble around the empty house or sit and stew. My stomach is in such knots that I’m sure I’d vomit if I ate anything, even though I’m hungry. Finally at a little after five, all of them walk in—Jackson, the girls, Jax, and Chloe. Jackson holds a large bunch of white roses, and I try without success to remember what the white rose symbolizes. He hands the flowers to me, the smile on his face almost a sneer. “For you.”

“Thank you; they’re lovely. I’ll go put them in water.” I start to move, but Jackson stops me and turns to Chloe.

“Chloe, would you be kind enough to put these in water for Daphne? Tallulah, Bella, why don’t you go help pick a vase and takeJax with you?” Once they’ve left the room, he gives me a frigid stare. “I asked for black ones, but the florist didn’t have any, so white it had to be.”

I want to scream at him to go fuck himself and stop all these stupid games, but I know that will get me exactly nowhere, so I say nothing.

He walks to the cart and picks up a glass and a bottle of Macallan scotch. “I’ve planned a special occasion for us tonight,” he says, his back to me as he pours himself a drink.

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