Vince climbed into the car. Herbert started the engine, glanced over at him, and

for a long moment, the two men locked eyes in heavy silence. Finally, Herbert

spoke, his voice tinged with a desperate plea. "Can you just... not fight me over

Natalie? I've loved her since we were kids for fifteen years."

"Vince's answer was cold and final. "I'm not the one you're fighting with. It's

Timothy."

"You're saying you don't like her?"

Anyone could see Vince's feelings for her.

"Just drive. We can talk while you're at it."

Herbert pressed the gas, and the car rolled forward.

"Vince's voice was low and steady. "How much do you actually know about

Natalie's childhood?"

"There you go again, asking about her. And you say you don't like her!"

Herbert was clearly annoyed.

Vince's expression darkened. "You claim you've loved her for fifteen years, but

you never did anything about it. You just let her marry Timothy and suffer through

all that-how is that fair to her?"

Herbert's knuckles tightened on the steering wheel, lips pressed so hard they

turned white.

He didn't know.

He never imagined things would turn out like this.

When Jessica filed for divorce, when she talked to Marquis about everything that

happened...

Every time Herbert thought about it, he felt tears sting his eyes-something he'd

never admit, not even to himself.

The girl he wanted to protect most ended up being hurt by Timothy in the worst

ways.

He blamed himself.

he moved away, they kept in touch, but he never told her

cure for her mutism, to use that

confession of love.

the time he came

only leads to

"Is she her

"What are you getting at? If she wasn't really

think her grandmother would have worked

her?"

furrowed. "So

is. She even

""What kind of birthmark?"

"Vince's voice trembled.

"I can't

private place.

had rushed over when he

he'd

their daughter, and she had that birthmark, her

know.

one ever said

on, Herbert,

brake and kept

"Why not?"

Vince was losing it.

that's

frustration boiled

made

brakes again, his own

You say you're not my

keep

am I supposed

you?"

since that birthmark was on her chest-there was

Vince that.

phone, scrolled through his photos, and shoved it in front

"Do you recognize

in shock. Wasn't that Natalie as a

the picture was wearing a fancy dress something

never

of Natalie's clothes growing

picked out

elderly grandmother. The prettiest

she ever

Herbert's own

his request.

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