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

found a cure for her mutism, to use that as

confession of love.

came back, it was already

only

then pressed on. "Is she her family's

you

grandmother would have worked herself

her?"

furrowed. "So

she is. She even has

""What kind of birthmark?"

"Vince's voice trembled.

wary. "I

in a private place. Back in grade

torn, and Herbert had rushed

only reason he'd ever seen

really their daughter, and

know.

one ever said Jessica wasn't their

grew impatient. "Come on, Herbert, this

and kept driving. "I'm

"Why not?"

Vince was losing it.

just can't, and that's

frustration boiled over. "Stop

made

again, his own

you're not my

you keep

am I supposed to

you?"

her chest-there was no way

Vince that.

his photos, and shoved

you recognize

in shock. Wasn't

the picture was wearing a

could never have

of Natalie's clothes

picked out by

elderly grandmother. The prettiest

she ever

from Herbert's own

his request.

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