It will be up to you if he gets them or not.”
Dare stared incredulously, not believing what he had just heard. In that instant he knew his father would do anything to get Alia out of his life. She would never be good enough for him in his parent ’ s eyes. He ran his hands through his thick hair and let out a foul curse. He knew that one way or another he was going to break Alia’s heart. She loved and worshipped her father above all else. She was daddy’s little girl. Charles Ward was a good man and worked hard building the construction business he owned. Charles didn’t deserve this from his father.
His father spoke when he remained quiet. “You will go to that young lady and break things off. You will marry Tracy as soon as possible, and you will uphold this family’s name.”
Dare looked at his father with complete disdain and hatred. “I will do this only after Mr. Ward has the contracts. Once this farce of a wedding is over, neither of you will ever see me again.”
His mother’s quick intake of breath at his statement caught his attention for a moment before Dare turned back to his father. He loved his mother and knew she loved him, but she would side with his father on this; for that he would never forgive her. “There will be an agreement drawn up. It will be clear that Tracy gets nothing in the event of a divorce. The agreement will provide for the care of the child, no matter what happens between me and Tracy. There will be a paternity test done when the child is born, and if it is not mine, the divorce will be swift, and Mr. Ward will keep the contracts.”
He watched his father narrow his gaze and nod. “I will have the papers drawn up.”
Dare shot back a dark glare and shook his head. “No. I’ll have my own lawyer draw them up.” Darius glanced at his mother and watched the small tear roll down her face. In that moment, he realized his father was evil and would do everything he could to keep him and Alia apart. His father was worth millions; it was inherited money, not earned, and he used that wealth to rule his family with an iron fist. Dare’s mother would do and say anything his father wanted her to in order to be kept in the lifestyle she was accustomed to —but, he couldn’t find it in his heart to hate her. Turning back to his father to see the glare in his eyes that he knew matched his own; he turned and stormed out of the study. His hopes and dreams slammed shut as hard as the study door.
Two Days Later
After putting in Darius’ favorite beer, Lia slammed the fridge door shut. She was still fuming after her confrontation in the store with that bitch Tracy. She really wanted to strangle that tart within an inch of her life. Tracy just didn’t get the picture. Darius didn’t want to have anything to do with her. But her parting shot still weighed heavily on Lia’s mind.
She had just put the last of the dinner on the table when the doorbell rang. She knew it was Dare before she opened it. “Why didn’t you use...” Her words died a quick death when she saw the haunted look in his gray eyes. His short, dark hair that was usually perfectly coifed was all over his head, and those beautiful gray eyes of his were so red - rimmed it looked as though he hadn’t slept in days. “Dare? What’s wrong? What happened?”
Dare walked right past her and into the living room. His angular jaw was clenched in pain and grief, almost as if he’d lost his best friend. Closing the door and walking in behind him, Lia went to take his hands only to have him pull away from her. Caught off guard by his obvious resistance, she put her hands on her hips. “What the hell, Darius? What’s wrong with you?”
She watched him take a long, deep breath before he spoke and ripped her heart out. “I can’t do this anymore. It was good while it lasted, but we just aren’t going anywhere.”
Lia cocked her
Dare stared incredulously, not believing what he had just heard. In that instant he knew his father would do anything to get Alia out of his life. She would never be good enough for him in his parent ’ s eyes. He ran his hands through his thick hair and let out a foul curse. He knew that one way or another he was going to break Alia’s heart. She loved and worshipped her father above all else. She was daddy’s little girl. Charles Ward was a good man and worked hard building the construction business he owned. Charles didn’t deserve this from his father.
His father spoke when he remained quiet. “You will go to that young lady and break things off. You will marry Tracy as soon as possible, and you will uphold this family’s name.”
Dare looked at his father with complete disdain and hatred. “I will do this only after Mr. Ward has the contracts. Once this farce of a wedding is over, neither of you will ever see me again.”
His mother’s quick intake of breath at his statement caught his attention for a moment before Dare turned back to his father. He loved his mother and knew she loved him, but she would side with his father on this; for that he would never forgive her. “There will be an agreement drawn up. It will be clear that Tracy gets nothing in the event of a divorce. The agreement will provide for the care of the child, no matter what happens between me and Tracy. There will be a paternity test done when the child is born, and if it is not mine, the divorce will be swift, and Mr. Ward will keep the contracts.”
He watched his father narrow his gaze and nod. “I will have the papers drawn up.”
Dare shot back a dark glare and shook his head. “No. I’ll have my own lawyer draw them up.” Darius glanced at his mother and watched the small tear roll down her face. In that moment, he realized his father was evil and would do everything he could to keep him and Alia apart. His father was worth millions; it was inherited money, not earned, and he used that wealth to rule his family with an iron fist. Dare’s mother would do and say anything his father wanted her to in order to be kept in the lifestyle she was accustomed to —but, he couldn’t find it in his heart to hate her. Turning back to his father to see the glare in his eyes that he knew matched his own; he turned and stormed out of the study. His hopes and dreams slammed shut as hard as the study door.
Two Days Later
After putting in Darius’ favorite beer, Lia slammed the fridge door shut. She was still fuming after her confrontation in the store with that bitch Tracy. She really wanted to strangle that tart within an inch of her life. Tracy just didn’t get the picture. Darius didn’t want to have anything to do with her. But her parting shot still weighed heavily on Lia’s mind.
She had just put the last of the dinner on the table when the doorbell rang. She knew it was Dare before she opened it. “Why didn’t you use...” Her words died a quick death when she saw the haunted look in his gray eyes. His short, dark hair that was usually perfectly coifed was all over his head, and those beautiful gray eyes of his were so red - rimmed it looked as though he hadn’t slept in days. “Dare? What’s wrong? What happened?”
Dare walked right past her and into the living room. His angular jaw was clenched in pain and grief, almost as if he’d lost his best friend. Closing the door and walking in behind him, Lia went to take his hands only to have him pull away from her. Caught off guard by his obvious resistance, she put her hands on her hips. “What the hell, Darius? What’s wrong with you?”
She watched him take a long, deep breath before he spoke and ripped her heart out. “I can’t do this anymore. It was good while it lasted, but we just aren’t going anywhere.”
Lia cocked her
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