Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
He grabbed my hand in his and looked at his brother. “Caiden, let’s go. She doesn’t need to be here, and you need to get the fuck out of here before you get your stupid ass thrown in jail.”
Caiden grabbed my other hand in his, and I kept my head bent, allowing my hair to shield my tear-stained face as my men led me out of the restaurant.
I’d known my mother was cruel, but I never knew she hated me enough to do something like this.
I slowly lifted my head from Christian’s shoulder when two cars pulled up in front of the house. Caiden gently squeezed my thigh, and my hand instantly found his under the blanket so I could lace our fingers together.
My dad got out of one car, and Axel and Julian got out of the other. “Meghan had to go home to take care of the kids,” Julian said as he strode up the porch.
“Why are you guys here?” I asked quietly as I looked up at my older brother.
Axel sighed. “I think you need to hear what Dad has to say.”
I slowly looked over at my dad. I was exhausted. I’d done nothing but cry for the past couple of hours, and now that I was finally done crying, I just wanted to sleep with my two men wrapped around me, keeping me safe from all of the monsters in my life.
“I am divorcing your mother,” Dad said, shocking me. My eyes widened in disbelief. “We’ve been in divorce hearings for about two months now. She’s fighting tooth and nail to remain married since she loses all of my money if we divorce. She signed a prenup before we got married,” he explained at my confused look.
“If she loses all of the money, then she has nothing to hire this bullshit-ass attorney with for Randall,” Julian explained. “In the meantime, I’ve already contacted my attorney, and he’s taking your case.” I gaped at Julian. “He’s prepared to fight if it comes to that, but he’s also still prepared to defend your side of the case in court against a public defender that is assigned to Randall.”
“I just want this all to be over with,” I whispered. I closed my eyes, just wishing none of this had happened. “This is so fucking exhausting.”
Christian pulled me onto his lap and gently rocked the swing back and forth. “I know it is, baby. But unfortunately, shit like this goes through a trial because knowing Randall, he’s going to plead not guilty at his court case.”
“I have proof of your mother having an affair last year,” Dad told me. I looked over at him in astonishment. “I’m taking that to court next week, and I’m hoping that the divorce will finally be granted. When it is, she won’t get a penny, Ally, and Randall won’t stand a chance. His parents nor his wife’s family are backing him on this. He’s been cut off from them.”
“How do you know all of this so quickly?” I asked. “Just a couple of hours ago, you hadn’t even heard of what happened.”
“I called—asked around,” Julian told me. “I wanted to know who and what we might be going up against with this son of a bitch. He doesn’t have a leg to stand on, Ally. He’s going to prison for a long time. You fought. His blood was under your fingernails. Everything matches him.”
I swiped at my cheeks. Caiden grabbed my hand in his, bringing it up to his lips. “I don’t understand why it even has to go to court then,” I whimpered. “Why do I have to be forced through this shit?”
“Because every man has a right to a trial by jury,” Axel gently explained. “If Randall pleads not guilty, it’ll, unfortunately, go to trial.”
“They’re going to bring everything from that night up,” Christian gently warned me. I squeezed my eyes shut, my heart thundering in my chest. Caiden gently squeezed my hand, reminding me that he was still here with me. “They’re going to pull out the court records. You’re going to be called on as a witness to explain what happened, as is my brother since he was the one that found you. There’s going to be photographs of the house shown, as well as photographs of your skin.”
“No,” I whispered in horror. I stared up at Christian, beginning to panic. “No!” I shouted.
I moved to get up, but Caiden stopped me as I lurched forward, his arms banding around my waist. He tugged me against him, holding my body immobile on his lap. I broke down, sobs wracking my chest. I felt Christian run his fingers through my hair, and his other hand ran up and down my arm.
“This can’t be happening,” I whimpered. “I don’t want anyone else to see.”