Page 51 of Sins of the Father

We go into my building and enter my condo. Harper puts on a smile, but all I feel is pain.

My quads may be paying the price from my workout, but the tugging of my heart is from my baggage and rules.

But I don’t know how to change it. And I’ll be damned if I hurt Harper in the process of trying to figure out how to undo all my issues.

7

Harper

“Lie down,”I instruct Steven and point to the bed. “I’ll get ice packs.”

“I’m fine.”

“Stop saying you’re fine,” I cry out.

His eyes widen.

“Sorry. I’ll be back in a minute.”

I leave the bedroom and go into the kitchen. My insides are shaking.

I’m uncertainty.

And I can’t disagree with that.

When I woke up this morning, I had flutters of excitement, thinking about seeing Steven today. I got ready and went out to the main room.

Jamison and Quinn had arrived home, and Jamison took me aside.

He handed me a piece of paper with six numbers on it.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“It’s the code for my safe. Take out whatever cash you need for the week and give me your phone so I can add my Uber account. My driver will take you wherever you need to go, but if there is some crazy situation that pops up, you’ll have it.”

I went to my room and got my phone. So much shame filled me. I couldn’t tell Jamison I didn’t need his Uber account or money. I wouldn’t put Hope’s well-being in jeopardy because of my ego. But it’s a knife slicing my last bits of self-respect.

There was a time I would have argued with him about how I didn’t need any of those things. But I can’t claim that right now.

You can’t even pay for an Uber.

I’m not sure what I expected to happen between Steven and me. I don’t live by rules and structure. Well, not anymore.

I used to. When I had my career as an attorney and was the dutiful wife, I had all sorts of parameters I lived by.

All staying in the lines did was keep me married to a cheater and leave me with nothing except sadness.

But my reality isn’t Steven’s.

And he thinks he disrespected you.

What does that make me in his eyes? A slut?

We didn’t even do anything...well, he only kissed me. I had a constant need to grind against his body.

I fill the bag with ice, put it aside, then fill a second one.

And you just told him you’re hitting rock bottom. Makes you super attractive.

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