Page 117 of Tempting Miles
I let myself fall apart against her.
“I’m not sure what’s going on, Penny,” she whispers, her own voice starting to shake, “but whatever it is, we’ll figure it out together. Just talk to me, sweetheart.”
The fear in her voice shatters whatever little resolve I still had left.
And suddenly, I know I can’t keep lying to her.
Whatever happens after I don’t walk down that aisle in ten minutes…
We’ll face it together.
Chapter 29
Penny
“Ican’t marry him.”
The words rip out of me between sobs as I sit trapped in a mountain of white tulle on the bathroom floor.
“A couple of months ago, I saw Easton at a bar in Charlotte,” I continue shakily. “He told me he needed a favor.” I let out a bitter laugh. “Apparently, he needed a wife to access a trustfund. I said no.”
Mami’s brows knit together, but she stays quiet, letting me speak.
I wipe angrily at my tears before continuing.
“Then about a month later, he showed up in Azalea Creek and asked me to lunch. That’s when he showed me notarized papers.”
Her face tenses, but she doesn’t make a peep.
“I’m not sure if you’re aware—and if you’re not, I’m sorry you’re finding out this way—but Dad gambled away the company during a poker game here at the club.”
Mami gasps, fresh tears filling her eyes.
“He lost it, Ma.” My voice cracks. “Easton said the only way Dad could get the company back was if I agreed to marry him.”
“What?” Her entire body stiffens. “Is Easton out of his mind? Why would you have to pay for your father’s mistakes?”
“I thought I could do it.” Another sob escapes me. “I really did. I thought I could save the company because I know how important it is to Dad, but I can’t go through with this.”
The confession rips something open inside me. Every ounce of fear, guilt, and panic I’ve been carrying spills out at once.
Mami holds me while I cry, her arms tight around me like she’s trying to shield me from the entire world.
Then she pulls back just enough to cup my face.
“Listen to me, Penélope.” Her voice turns fierce, like a lioness preparing for battle. “I love you and that big heart of yours, but you don’t need to sacrifice yourself to right this wrong.”
There’s fire in her eyes. The kind I’ve seen a handful of times in my life.
“I would never forgive your dad if you married this piece of garbage because he decided to gamble more money than he could afford to lose.”
I sniffle loudly, trying to catch my breath.
“I’ll be right back,” she says as she rises to her feet.
Then she points at me with full mom authority.
“And don’t you dare move.”
