Page 89 of The Depraved Prince
Finally, she breaks the silence.
“He cheated on me. He cheated on me with someone who is barely old enough to drink, and now he wants me to forgive him for that.” Her voice breaks and turns into a bellow of cries. She sags in my arms momentarily before she picks herself back up and stands.
“Mom. Don’t you dare forgive him, please? You deserve better than this. It’s not too late for you to get your happily ever after. You know, I read so many books. So many stories where there are men out there who would rather die than dream about hurting the woman they love?”
Her red, watery hazel eyes darken, and she scrunches her nose like I said something appalling.
“Millie, this isn’t one of your silly romance novels! This is real life! It’s time you accepted that.”
“Mom! They do exist! I know they do…they have to.”
“Millie! Look! I cheated on him, too! Happily ever afters aren’t for everyone! Santiago loves me…” She shakes her head like she can’t find the words. She brushes her red cheeks withfrustration and pulls at her hair slightly. “I’m going to forgive him! Now, please, get out!”
“But mom? It’s Thanksgiving, and I?—”
“Get out! Now! Before Santiago comes back and sees you here.”
“Por favor, ma…” I plead as I try to reach out to hug her.
She turns to me with a broken expression and pursed lips.
“Don’t you understand?! I don’t choose you, Millie.” Her words poison me like venom. My heart shatters.
Can you die of a broken heart? Can you die after learning you’ll never get to have your mother’s love? Because my chest hurts. It burns, and I swear, the pain starts to intensify, causing my heart to palpate dangerously. I freeze from her revelation, and now I’m the silent one who can’t find the words to speak. She’s abandoning me all over again.
She continues unapologetically, “I choose him. I will always choose him.”
Now, I’m full of tears. My mother is pushing me awayagain, chipping the light I try to maintain in my soul away and still choosing a man who has betrayed her in disgusting ways. Sleeping with other women when he has my mother, who gave up her children for what she deems is love.
I stand there, with wetness down my cheeks, and walk away. I exit her house, get into my car, and start to drive.
She will always choose to chase her happiness over Nash and me. All I want is for her to see herself the way I see her.
A few minutes later, it’s like I don’t have control. I seek comfort. I seek…him. I let my body take over on autopilot while my mind is full of dark thoughts. I head for the one person who makes me feel like good men are still out there.
I’m knocking on Cole’s door.
He lives in a two-story house on his own, right next to a country club. I know Cole comes from money, but he never likesto talk about it. This house is just one of his family’s properties. As always, he doesn’t take long to answer.
He opens it. His brown eyes light up, and he smiles. But then it falters, his lips turn into slits, and his brows pinch together worriedly. He’s clearly stunned, with widened eyes and pinkened cheeks.
“Millie?”
“Can I come in? I know it’s Thanksgiving. Oh, shoot! Is your family here? Of course, they’re here! I’m sorry…” I ramble and begin to stutter my words. “Crap. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come. I apologize. It’s a holiday, and I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ll get out of your hair.”
“Wait!” Cole grabs my hand, and my heart jumps when his hand pulls me back towards his front step. “What’s wrong? It looks like you’ve been crying?”
Shit. Did my mascara smear?
I brushed my knuckles near my eye, and sure enough, black traces of makeup formed on my skin when I swiped.
“Come in. Now.” He demands. “My family lives more north, remember?”
I feel bad for not remembering that he’s here only for medical school, and then he’ll move away once he gets an internship.
He doesn’t give me a choice. He pulls me into his chest, and his cologne wraps me up like a warm hug. Then his arms encase me into his strong body…and I let him hold me. I sniffle softly against his warmth, seeking comfort.
He closes his front door and leads me to his couch.
