Chapter 34

Erin’s POV

“I need to go home,” I say, breaking the embrace from Gavin. “Henry will be wondering where I am…”

“Will you tell him about us?” He finally asked the question that’s been lingering in his mind.

I lowered my gaze to the ground.

“There’s nothing to tell him…”

“Why do you keep denying me?” Gavin asked, cupping my chin under the palm of his hand, and bringing my gaze to his. “Why won’t you admit that…”

“Admit what? That I love you? You know why…” I say to him, pulling away. “I need to go. I’m sorry if this isn’t the response you wanted. But it’s all I can give you for right now.”

His hand fell to his side, and I could see the sadness in his eyes; it broke my heart to see him like this. I wanted to run back into his arms and embrace him, but I refrained from doing so. I thought he would argue with me, but he watched as I got into my car.

I sat in my car for a moment before driving away; maybe there was a part of me that hoped that he would stop me. But he didn’t. He watched as I drove away.

As soon as I was out of sight, I couldn’t stop the steady stream of tears from escaping my eyes. I cried the entire way home. I had to put on a happy face before I got home so Henry wouldn’t see my pain.

But once I got home, I saw that Henry’s car wasn’t in the driveway.

He must still be at work. I thought to myself.

This was a good thing. I had time to shower and get my mind back in order before I saw Henry.

The first thing I did when I returned home was take a shower. I scrubbed away the ghost of Gavin’s fingers on my flesh, trying to brush him out of my mind. He was haunting my mind.

“It’s because you still love him. You are in denial,” Emily said; I knew she was annoyed with me.

“Getting involved with him again isn’t a good idea,” I reminded her.

“Why not? Does it even matter anymore?”

I ignored her; I knew what she was getting at and I wasn’t entertaining her thoughts anymore. By the time I got out of the shower and dressed in my nightgown, Henry still wasn’t home.

That was strange; he was usually always home by now. I decided I would start dinner; once I finished cooking, I was sure he would be home. I wanted to apologize to him for everything I had put him through these last few weeks. I wanted to tell him everything that was going on in my mind.

In order for this partnership to work, we had to be honest with one other and I was anything but honest with him.

I hated myself for lying to him so frequently. I wanted him to know what was going on in my mind.

I decided to cook his favorite meal, steak, and potatoes. It took a little over an hour to complete the cooking process.

I sat at the empty table, staring over at the clock; it was 10 pm. His dinner sat on his plate at his unoccupied spot and mine sat untouched in front of me.

I wasn’t hungry, but I was willing to force myself to eat for his benefit. I knew it drove him crazy when I skipped meals. That’s why he made it a point to cook me breakfast in the morning. But he wasn’t here, so I didn’t have much of an excuse to eat.

I leaned back in my seat, frowning at his empty chair.

I was worried about him.

I glanced at my phone; there were no missed calls or texts from Henry.

It was unlike him to be late without notifying me first. Unless he was on a mission and couldn’t get to his phone, but as far as I knew, he didn’t have Moonshadow duties tonight.

Unless it was a surprise mission. In that case, I grew even more worried.

Both our meals were growing cold and untouched on the table. I stood and packed mine in Tupperware, shoving it into the fridge before going to my room.

I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to sleep knowing that Henry was out there somewhere, but I needed to try or else I was just going to spend the rest of the evening panicking and stressing over him.

I sent him a couple of messages before and after dinner; I even called him, but his phone went straight to voicemail.

The only explanation was that he was on a mission.

Oh, goddess… please watch over Henry. Wherever he is, bring him home to me…

I closed my eyes and waited for sleep to come.

…

Tonight, was the first time I dreamt of my father in years.

He was a rich and powerful man; he was the kind of man that everybody knew about, and everybody respected. It was because of him that I was well-liked for most of the high school. Nobody dared to cross his daughter and I guess I grew kind of used to that lifestyle.

My father also never really cared about whom I dated, regardless of their status. Not that I had many serious boyfriends before Gavin. But even Gavin, my father never seemed to mind.

They’ve only encountered one another a couple of times and my father said he seemed like a fine young man. Gavin might have been poor, but he was incredibly smart, and he knew exactly what he wanted out of life.

Gavin had gotten into this amazing and well-known University. The only way he could afford it thought was from a full scholarship. With his grades, brainpower, and charisma, he got the scholarship easily.

Even my father seemed impressed.

One day, my father was no longer impressed.

He came to me in a cold manner, something I had never seen from him before. At least not directed toward me.

“We need to talk,” he said, sitting before me in the living room. I frowned and put down the book I was reading so I could focus on what he was saying. “I won’t have a daughter of mine dating someone as poor and useless as Gavin.”

“What?” I gasped, staring at him with wide eyes. “Where is this coming from, father?”

“You are a smart girl; I thought for sure you would understand the importance of your status as heiress. I thought this ‘relationship’ was nothing more than a fling. But it’s clear you have no intentions of breaking things off with him. I’m incredibly disappointed that you haven’t made this choice for yourself yet.”

“I don’t understand,” I said in a mere whisper. “I love him. You can’t be serious.”

“Erin, you are going to take over our estate one day and you need someone who is going to live up to the same standards. You want someone who can help take care of you and our business, not the other way around. His family is incredibly poor and I can’t let someone that poor continue to date my daughter.”

“It’s not up to you,” I say, shaking my head. “It’s my relationship. I choose what I want and I choose Gavin.”

“I’m afraid I can’t let you continue this dead-end relationship. Do you have any shame?” His words were cold and sent a shiver down my spine.

I stood to my feet quickly, trying to keep the tears from my eyes.

“I won’t stay here and allow you to speak ill of him,” I said to him through my teeth. “I’m sorry if you are disappointed, but I love him. I plan to marry him.”

“Can’t you see he’s just after you for the money?” My father shouted, standing to his feet as well.

“That’s a lie,” I hissed. “He’s never once asked me for a dime.”

“Not yet, but he will. Once you are married, he will drain you and our family of everything we got.”

“Is that what you really think of him? Do you really think Gavin is capable of something like that?” I asked, tears burning in my eyes.

“I don’t think… I know.”

“Well, you are wrong., father. I will prove it to you. Gavin loves me for far more than just money,” I told him, my tone hardening.

I was done with this conversation, I turned away from him, ready to leave.

“I’m not going to take that chance,” my father said, folding his arms across his chest.

I froze.

“What does that mean?”

“It means, you are to break up with him the next time you see him,” my father ordered.

“Or what?” I asked, turning toward him. “You can’t make me do anything…”

“Or else that scholarship he has will be revoked and he won’t be able to attend that university any longer.”

And just like that, my world crashed down.