Page 99 of Let's Be Forever

“Don’t go.” I’m grabbing her wrist, tugging her back. “Let me.”

My stomach is in knots, heart thundering out of control as I watch the couple on the other side of the glass.

“What’s wrong? Why are you being weird?” she asks, perplexed, and peeks out her head, trying to get a look at who it is, but I jerk her away.

Removing my apron, I toss it on the table. “Clara and Dean.”

Her jaw physically drops, eyebrows rising to her hairline. “Are you serious? Sylas’s parents?”

“Yeah. I’ll be back.” I blow out a breath and head to the front, standing behind the counter. “Hi, welcome to Everything Everything. We’re about to close in five minutes,” I say in my most professional, friendly voice.

There’s so much I want to say, but it’s better if I don’t. I don’t doubt they’ll use whatever I say against me. I wouldn’t put it pastthem. They’re also not worth it. If they had no remorse over what they said to Sylas, they won’t care to listen to me.

Clara and Dean stand in the middle of my small bakery, staring at the place with contemptuous expressions. They try to hide it but not too hard because I can see past their blasé exterior.

“Good, we only need two,” Clara snobbily supplies before approaching the counter as she digs into her designer purse.

Dean follows suit. His eyes and jaw are set tight as he gives me a once-over. But he stays quiet as she draws out a piece of paper and places it on the counter, sliding it toward me.

“That’s enough for you to pack all of this up”—she idly sweeps her gaze over the bakery—“and move.”

The piece of paper is a check with so many zeroes I have to do a double take to make sure my eyes aren’t deceiving me.

Rage splinters my body, and black fogs my vision. I want nothing more than to crumple the paper up and throw it at their faces, but instead I slide it back.

“I don’t need that, and we’re closing now. Get out.” I’m simmering with fury. It bubbles up my throat and chokes me.

“Is that not enough?” Clara tilts her head, her brows pinched.

“Take the check and leave Sylas alone,” Dean grits. He picks up the check and slaps it down on the counter. “You came into his life and fucked everything up.”

“And you’ve been in his life since he was born and have been nothing but horrible to him. Who calls their son weak for having a panic attack? Not to mention you didn’t tell him about hisdaughter.” I don’t mean to raise my voice, but I can’t bring myself to care anymore. “I don’t need your money. Take this, and stay away from us.”

They stare at me like I’ve slapped them, but the shock wears off soon enough. I know they’re trying to appear unbothered, butthe resentment rolls off them in hot waves, and malice shines in their eyes.

“Now that you’re a mother, you’ll understand?—”

“No,” I snap, cutting Clara off. “Get out.” I grab the check and rip it apart, then round the counter and march to the door, opening it for them.

I don’t know how she can stand there and call herself a mother. I don’t know how either one of them can call themselves a parent—how they sleep at night, how they can live with themselves, how they pretend like they’re doing him a favor.

They leave the ripped-up pieces on the counter and exit, but they stall outside. “We’ll never be this generous again.”

“Fuck your generosity.” I bristle.

I’m fuming as I shut the door and lock it. Unable to stand still, I pace the length of the small bakery.

“What the actual fuck?” Clementine stares at me, bewildered. “I can’t believe they…” Her voice wavers, and she shakes her head while breathing out aggressively. “I have never hated anyone more. Never thought that’d be possible, considering I hate my dad, but God, they top it. Just so you know, I recorded that.” She holds her phone up.

I laugh at the grave look on her face. “You recorded us?”

“Yes, you just never know when you’ll need it.” She shrugs, but her amusement fades. “I’m sorry, Anna. What are you going to do?”

I exhale a long sigh. “I…I don’t know…”

I’m stunned to find Rosie, Maya, and Sylas in the living room. It’s way past Rosie’s bedtime. She should already be sleeping, but my daughter is running around with her dog.

“Mama!” She zooms straight toward me when she hears me.