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"That's hter?" he hisses at her, and it's done with such fury that Gracen shrinks back until the door stops her "I have a fucking daughter and you never thought to fucking tell me?"

Marek takes a step toward her and I honestly don't knohat he'll do, so I juive him a little shove back "You need to dial it back, buddy Before you do so stupid"

He's not dissuaded and he ht to look past er at her and I notice it's shaking "There is no good reason that bitch should have kept that secret I had a right to know"

Jesus, this is fucking whacked I don't even knohat to say, because Marek did have a right to know

But his outrage apparently proht in between us and pushes Marek in the chest My arms fall away and I stand poised ready to break up what could turn into a physical fight

"You have no right to stand up there on a pedestal, Marek Fabritis, and act like you've been wronged," she yells at him furiously Her face is beet red and her eyes are filled with tears She blinks once and they fall, and she rubs at them with the backs of her hands as she continues "You left me You didn't want a relationship with otten, your exact words, you asshole, were, 'I don't want the responsibility of a relationship I don't want to have to take care of soht now' So I took what you said at face value, you shteous prick, and I et broken by a daddy who didn't want the responsibility"

I cringe internally over those last words, and Marek see a step back from Gracen as he looks at her almost blankly

Gracen on the other hand is still red with fury and her chest is heaving with indignation while tears continue to course down her face

"What's her name?" Marek asks so softly I can barely hear him

Now it's Gracen who deflates, and she looks like she could just melt into the floor with exhaustion Still, her voice is stronger than Marek's when she answers, "Lilly"

"Lilly," he ue

All three of us jolt when the door flies open, and this tioing to guess by the tuxedo is Gracen's fiance He's as tall as Marek and me but twice as thick, especially in his belly area Still, it looks like if a fight were to break out, he could get soood punches in before Marek could take him down

And I've seen Marek on the ice The fucker fights with uncontrolled fury

"What the hell is going on, Gracen?" the guy asks as his eyes lock on to Marek with clear distaste "Lilly said there were two "

There is nothe clear condescension in his voice as he talks "down" to Gracen, and I know in that instant Marek is right This guy is a patronizing dickhead

Gracen doesn't respond, but brings one hand up to her forehead where she rubs the bridge of her nose I guarantee you she's sporting a ht now

"Get your shit, Gracen," Marek says with quiet co with me"

Gracen's hand falls away and her head snaps up to look at Marek in disbelief Owen takes a step toward her and holds his hand out "Gracenco ht now"

"She's not fuckingto raise rowls as he takes a step toward Owen

I i him with a hand to his chest Thankfully, he halts

"Gracen," Owen says in a placating tone "We love each other This is our big day Don't let him ruin it"

I watch Gracen's face closely A sign that what Owen just said is true That they love each other I don't get a single bit of acknowledgaze back at him

"Gracen," Marek says, and his tone is not placating It's hard, ruthless, and not receptive to any arguht now, or so help me God, I'll use every dime of the considerable fortune I have to take Lilly away froain"

I cringe again, this tiroan of dismay that comes out of me "Marekdude Not cool"

"Make your decision, Gracen," Marek says with so much ice in his voice that I have to suppress a shiver He pushes pastin the car You have five minutes to decide"

And with that, Marek walks out the door and slams it shut behind him

I sigh and rub the bridge of oing to spank the shit out of Josie for even thinking this could be a good idea

Chapter 24