Chapter 40 His Unspoken Truth: The Life He Wanted
Six years ago
Cade
My hands were sweating against the leather of the steering wheel, even though the air conditioning in the car was humming perfectly.
I looked over at Sloane sitting in the passenger seat, fidgeting with the blindfold I’d asked her to wear. Her lips were pulled into that wide, excited smile that always made my chest feel tight with a mix of happiness and a weird, gnawing guilt.
“Are we there yet?” she asked. It was the fourth time in ten minutes. She sounded so full of life, so expectant. It made me feel like a liar, even though I was just trying to give her a nice night.
I forced a laugh, trying to keep my voice steady. “For the fourth time, Sloane, we’re not,” I said. “Gosh, I just had to get myself a very impatient girlfriend.”
“Well, I just had to get myself a very secretive boyfriend,” she shot back. Her voice was playful, but I could hear the curiosity underneath. “I can’t even remember how I let you talk me into wearing a blindfold.”
“Hehe. I’ve been told I can be quite persuasive,” I said. I was smiling, but I could feel my heart hammering against my ribs.
I was taking her to my dad’s newest restaurant. It was a gamble, a stupid, dangerous gamble. I wanted to prove to myself that I could take her anywhere, that his shadows didn't own the whole city.
She gave me a quick jab to the arm, and I chuckled, making the final turn into the VIP parking lot. “Don’t worry, we’re almost there,” I promised. “It’s just around the corner.”
I pulled to a stop and killed the engine. I climbed out and walked around to her side to help her out, her hand small and warm in mine.
When I finally pulled the blindfold away, her eyes went wide, reflecting the bright gold lights of the restaurant entrance.
“Woah. Where is this place??”
“It’s one of the new restaurants under one of my dad’s business ventures,” I said, trying to sound like a man who was in control. “They got up and running just last month and I’ve been planning to take us here ever since.”
“Awwn. Secretive and thoughtful! Such a darling,” she said, leaning her head against my shoulder for a brief second.
I led her inside, my heart skipping beats. I was trying so hard to be the "darling" she saw.
The restaurant was beautiful, I couldn't deny that. The lighting was dim and warm, making the whole room look like it was glowing. There were small candles on every table, their flames flickering like tiny heartbeats.
We walked over to a big corner booth, tucked away, shielded from the main view of the door. I had specifically requested it.
I watched Sloane sit down, her hand brushing against the dark velvet that covered the seats. She looked so happy, so relaxed.
“Cade, this place is amazing!! Thank you so much for bringing us here,” she said, her eyes bright with the kind of genuine excitement I hadn't seen in a long time.
“If you think the sights are good, you should check out the food,” I replied, trying to hide how much my heart was racing. I handed her the menu. It was thick and heavy, the kind of paper that felt like it cost more than my first car.
We spent a few minutes just laughing at the names of the dishes. Everything sounded so complicated and fancy, but in a way that made us feel like we were part of a secret club.
The waiter came by, and took our orders. As we waited, we settled into a real conversation. It wasn't about work or money. We talked about the house we wanted to build one day, and how we’d fill it with dogs and big, messy bookshelves.
When the food arrived, it smelled like heaven. We started eating, and for the first twenty minutes, it was perfect. Sloane took a bite of her pasta and closed her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips.
"I could live in this moment forever," she whispered, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand.
I was just about to tell her how much I loved her when the atmosphere in the room changed. It wasn't a slow shift. It was like a physical blow.
The front doors didn't just open; they slammed against the interior walls with a bang that made the glasses on our table rattle.
“Where is he?”
The voice was like a bucket of ice water being poured down my spine. The warmth of the dinner, the smell of the food, the look of love in Sloane’s eyes. It all vanished in an instant.
Around us, the restaurant died. I could see a woman at the next table with her fork frozen halfway to her mouth. The silence was so thick I could hardly breathe.
“Where is my son?!!”
I felt my entire face go pale. My jaw dropped, and I froze. My hand was still holding hers, but my fingers went cold and stiff.
I saw Sloane jump in her seat. She looked startled, her breath catching as she whipped her head around toward the door.
My father marched across the room. He didn't care about the quiet, expensive vibe of the place. When he reached our table, he seemed to tower over us. His face was a mask of cold, hard anger.
I forced myself to stand up. My legs felt like they were made of water, shaking so hard I had to grip the edge of the table to keep from falling. I looked at him, trying to find some shred of the man I had been just five minutes ago.
"Dad, please, not here," I whispered. I could feel everyone's eyes on us, like needles stabbing into my skin. I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.
My father didn't even acknowledge me. He kept his eyes locked on Sloane, looking at her with a disgust that made my stomach turn.
“When I found out that you had a reservation here for tonight, I thought I’d stop by to see who you decided to bring into my new restaurant,” he said.
His voice wasn't loud anymore; it was low and sharp, cutting through the silence like a knife.
“I’m surprised it’s this no-good Hartford, because I thought I told you that I don’t want you to have anything to do with her.”
I looked at Sloane. She was trying so hard to stay calm, but I could see the cracks forming.
“Sloane, I believe you’ve overstayed your welcome in my restaurant,” my father said, leaning down slightly until he was inches from her face. “I’d appreciate it if you left now.”