Page 182 of Wild Card

My heart clenches in my chest, but I force myself to forge on. “What happened after you found out they were sleeping around?”

“I wanted to come up with a fool-proof plan. Telling your dad or Chase was one option, but I figured Joseph may notsurvive. It had to be me. I had to confront Rylee and still find a way not to devastate you. I was physically ill trying to work through scenarios. Then Rylee beat me to it by inviting you over that night. Joseph had arrived a few minutes before. Your dad didn’t have time to absorb the whole situation before you came through the door. You know the rest.”

“You stood by her. With each word she spewed that night, you watched me crumble.”

“I didn’t stand by her. I stood frozen in horror as my daughters’ relationship disintegrated into ash, knowing I didn’t protect you.”

“No.” I slam my fist on the table. “You didn’t protect me, then chose to stick by her.”

A large hand closes over mine, and I tip up to find Ace’s dark eyes blazing. “Lo, let’s go.”

“No, Achilles. I am fine.”

“We don’t agree.” Ford’s curtness would normally shock me. But his worry is evident.

I close my eyes and breathe a few times, finding balance. “Guys, I promise. Let me do this.”

They’re less than pleased as they back away.

“You may not believe this, but my family is everything to me, too.”

Oh, hell no, she doesn’t get to throw my words about April in my face. “Talon was across the world from his mom. I wasn’t even across town from you.”

“I know.”

“A year. You didn’t contact me for a year.”

“That’s not true. You wouldn’t take my calls.” She has a point.

“After you told me I was making you choose.”

“You were doing so well. Everything you worked to achieve was within reach. My devastation seemed selfish next to your accomplishments. That night you were in the hospital,something inside me died, knowing my first baby girl was suffering and I wasn’t able to see you.”

That night comes back to me in vivid color. Her voice, her words. “I heard you. You thought because I had Talon, things would go back to normal.”

“I was shocked, and hope sprung.”

“You supported Rylee, essentially choosing her.”

“No, I didn’t support her. But I did what I always did by letting her get her way. Sterling and I were tense. Chase was furious with me and he was pulling away with Wyatt. Lynden and Rosie were resigned. The one thing I set out to do to protect my family had backfired in the most horrendous way. Two of my children hate me because I didn’t have the courage to stand up to my overly spoiled and malicious daughter.”

“Rylee’s a bitch. But you’re wrong. I don’t hate you.”

Optimism blossoms on her face, her eyes welling. “Really?”

“Really. I don’t trust you, will never be able to erase what happened, but I also can’t measure the position you were in.”

“What?”

“Wyatt owns a piece of my heart. Jewls’ twins, Levi and Koby, are my little love bugs. Harley’s unborn baby already has me wanting to scream with excitement with each day we get closer to the due date. These aren’t even my own children. One day, when I have kids, I expect my heart may belong outside of my body.”

“This is true.” She gives me a sheepish grin.

“That being said, you had three of us to love. Rylee was your baby. We were raised with the same values and morals, but she strayed. You and Dad placated that behavior. She lived with no consequences until recently. None of that changes the fact that you love your children.”

“From the bottom of my soul, I am sorry for the way I behaved this last year. You were always on my mind, but at some point, I reconciled that you were better off without me.”

“Stacy, this may take time. But one common denominator I take blame for is people always wanting to protect me. You hiding Rylee’s betrayal, Chase and Bex hiding their relationship, Talon trying to put me behind a fortress. I’m stronger than people give me credit for.”

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