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.

kept in touch, but he never told her

wait until he'd found a cure for her mutism, to use

confession of love.

the time he came back,

love only

"Is she her family's

you getting at? If she wasn't really

you think her grandmother would have worked

her?"

"So you're

even has a

""What kind of birthmark?"

"Vince's voice trembled.

"I

birthmark was in a private place.

Herbert had rushed over when he heard. That

reason he'd ever

their daughter, and she had

know.

this town-no one ever

grew impatient. "Come on, Herbert, this is

the brake and kept driving. "I'm not telling

"Why not?"

Vince was losing it.

just can't, and that's final. Don't ask

frustration boiled over.

made

brakes again,

you're not my

you keep digging into

am I supposed

you?"

that birthmark was on her chest-there was no way he

Vince that.

through his photos, and shoved it in front

"Do you recognize this

shock. Wasn't that Natalie as a

the picture was

never

Natalie's clothes

picked

elderly grandmother. The prettiest

she ever

Herbert's own mother,

his request.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255