“Then where does it go? Did you build a mausoleum for Mom or something?” I snorted.
“Yes.” Her shoulders slumped, and for the first time, I saw hurt in her eyes. All the anger that had built up over the years vanished as she released a wobbly breath.
“I’m sorry, Joce. I really thought Mom meant for me to have the ring. And I know she would want it kept in the family.” I waved over to Lola. “And since she will become my wife, it stays in this family.”
Jocelyn tensed and glared at me. “But you’re not going toactuallymarry her.”
“Yes, I am. I know it may be hard to hear, given our past, but I love Lola. She didn’t hurt us.”
“Then why did you vow to destroy her?”
My brows shot up.
“You what?” Lola asked.
“I said nothing like that...” But then the memory came flooding back.
I had pushed that day down deep inside me because it hurt too much to remember—the day our mom died.
We had nothing, not even enough to bury our mom as she wished. As the oldest, I sucked up my pride and went to the only people I knew who had enough money to help us. They knew our family, so I thought they could help.
“That was a different time, Jocelyn.” My gaze slid to Lola. “We were different people then.”
“Deep down, we have all stayed the same,” my sister mumbled.
Maybe my sister was right. Deep down, I was just a bitter boy, heartbroken that his mom had to suffer while the family who could have helped did nothing.
“I still don’t understand what happened? What did you say, Jenner?” Lola’s naïve eyes peered up at me as if I wasn’t about to break her heart.
I held out my hand. “Lola... I made a mistake. We shouldn’t marry.”
My eyes stayed glued to my hand, unable to look at her beautiful face. I loved her, but my sister was right; there was just too much pain between our families. How would my other sisters react? What would my mom say if she were still alive?
We weren’t meant to be together. And as much as it hurt me to walk away from Lola, what I had to say next ripped my heart in two.
“I think it’s best if I stay out of Jenni’s life too. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of financially.”
“Jenner...” Lola stepped right up to me. She clutched my face, forcing me to look at her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and I ached to wipe them away.
“Don’t do this, Jenner. Whatever you said or did, it’s the past. We move forward.”
“I don’t think you understand.” For only a few seconds, I let my body envelop her, inhaling the scent I knew would only be a memory from now on. “I planned this. All of this... even Jenni.”
She stiffened in my arms, but I plucked the ring from her palm when she wasn’t paying attention. Then I turned and moved past Eric, who, for once, didn’t react in anger but in shock.
I heard my sister follow me out of the room. Like an evil minion, she trailed behind, delighted I followed through on my promise:
To hurt Lola Hudson the way she had hurt the Cartwrights.
Chapter 20
Lola
It had been two days since Jenner walked out of my life, yet it felt like it had been years.
“You don’t need him.” Lydia pressed her fingers into the dirt and glanced back at me.
“You’re right. Jenni and I have done fine without him, so it’s not like she needs to have a father in her life.” I stood there staring at the estate walls, searching for cracks—like the one in my heart.