Chapter 45 In Between The Lies
Present day
Sloane
The air in the room felt like it had turned into ice.
I sat there, staring at Cade, but I wasn't really seeing him. My mind was stuck on the last few words that had come out of his mouth.
His father had threatened to destroy my grandmother’s business. He had threatened to wipe out the Hartford name if Cade didn’t walk away from me.
I didn't scream. I didn't cry. I didn't even move. I just sat in a heavy, ringing silence. It was the kind of shock that makes your heart feel like it’s stopped beating for a second.
For six years, I had built a story in my head about why we ended. I told myself he was greedy. I told myself he was cold. I told myself I wasn't enough to keep him interested.
Now, that whole story was falling apart.
I leaned back against the couch, my eyes fixed on a small scratch on the coffee table.
I remembered the breakup. I remembered the way he looked at me in his apartment, telling me I wasn't "suited for his ambitions." I remembered the cold, blank look in his eyes as he watched me leave.
I had spent years carrying that anger. It was like a heavy weight I wore every day.
But now, that anger had nowhere to land. He hadn't left because he wanted a better life or a more powerful wife. He had left because staying would have meant watching my grandmother lose everything she had spent fifty years building.
He had chosen to lose me so I wouldn't lose my future.
"You should have told me," I finally said. My voice sounded hollow, like it was coming from a long way off. It wasn't an accusation. It was just a quiet, painful realization.
Cade sighed, a long, ragged sound. He looked exhausted.
"I know. But Sloane, my father isn't the type of man you sit down and talk to."
He looked me in the eye, his gaze steady.
"I knew his reach. It was the only way to make sure you stayed safe. If you hated me, you wouldn't come looking for me and get into trouble with him"
I looked at him, really looked at him, and saw the toll it had taken.
He had been carrying this for six years. He had let me hate him. He had let the whole world think he was a social climber who dumped his college sweetheart for a better deal.
We sat there in the quiet. I didn't reach out to him, and he didn't reach for me. There was just a lot of old pain and a new, strange understanding.
I wasn't ready to forgive him for making the choice for me, but I finally understood why he did it.
The doorbell rang.
When I opened the door, it was a young woman. She wore a charcoal gray blazer over a crisp white shirt, and matching trousers. She carried a leather briefcase.
“Good evening, Mr Whitmore, Miss Hartford”, she says, taking a practiced bow.
“Excuse me, who are you?”, I ask, my mind still stuck in the conversation I have with Cade.
“The wedding contractor”, she said. “Claire Hartford sent me to give you some documents to sign ahead of the wedding”
A knot started to form in my stomach. My mind started racing as I gripped the door.
Why now? Why so late?
“My aunt didn’t mention you were stopping by”, I said.
“Well, she said they are urgent”, she said, with a polite smile. “Just a few formalities”
I let her inside and walked her to the dining table in the kitchen”
She had brought out some papers to sign about floral arragements, wine list approvals, seating charts.
“So for this one you, sign here”, she said, pointing to a space on a paper for decor.
I signed with shaky hands.
“And you here, Mr Whitmore”
Cade took the pen from me, our fingers brushed for a second in a way that sent sparks through me. He put his signature in quick strokes.
She proceeded to bring out other documents. I wanted to get it over with. Then Cade stopped my pen inches from the paper, before my next signature.
“Hold on, Sloane”, Cade said, his voice shartp. “What does this mean?” pointing out a line in the document.
It was in small fine print. Smaller than the main text. It could have been easily missed. And I did miss it.
I slid the paper towards my side to discover a hidden clause. My heart began to pound as I read it.
Claire Hartford would be given power of attorney over Hartford Hotels during the honeymoon period.
My eyes widened. A wave of worry washed over me.
That meant she could approve anything. I’d be making her queen for a day.
I turned towards the lady, my voice turning cold.
“Why is this here?”, I asked, lifting the paper from the table and shoving it in her face.
She took the paper from me, her expression not changing at all.
“It’s standard”, she claimed. “A business proxy will be required to run the hotel for the honeymoon. After which, you can legally to claim it”
Cade and I exchanged glances. It definitely seemed fishy.
“How about we put a hold on that one till we discuss with ourselves, and our lawyer if needed?”, Cade asked.
“Okay”, she said. “But don’t take too long. These have to be agreed on before the wedding”
She handed us a few more papers.
I took an extra minute to look at the margins, the footers, the fine prints. I had to be sure that I was not going to miss another hidden clause.
After we were done, we handed her the pen. She packed her briefcase quickly, her movements a little faster than before.
“Thank you”, she said. “And congratulations in advance, Mr and Mrs. Whitmore”
She gave a quick straight smile before walking towards the front door. As soon as the door shut behind us, the room felt heavy.
Cade’s eyes were still fixed on the door.
“I think your Aunt knows”, Cade said.