“You think that when I see my ex-fiancée marrying my brother that I’m going to lose my mind and try and stop it? That I would want her back?” I ask defensively.
A small gasp falls from Eloise’s mouth upon hearing that news. Her hand squeezes mine, letting me know she’s right by my side in that moment.
“It’s a fear George has, sweetheart. They are a family now,” my mother adds.
Where was their concern when George was fucking my fiancée? Of course, my brother is worried because he thinks people are wired like him. And let’s face it, Miranda cheated on me. Therefore, she’s not innocent in this. It must make George wonder whether he can trust her.
I wouldneverwant Miranda back.
Trust—it’s a two-way street, and there’s no expectation that she could possibly be faithful to anyone, let alone me.
“Are you fucking serious right now?” I say, cursing at my mother.
“Ali, don’t talk to your mother like that,” my father calls out down the line.
Fuck them.I’m so angry.
How can they think so little of me when George is the one who fucked it all up for me? He’s the one they should be questioning. Where was their concern for me when my heart was fucking shattered after we broke up?
“You can’t seriously think I’m the one who’s going to be the problem? What about George? What about what he did to me? You’ve never once stuck up for me and my feelings in all this. You pushed me aside because he threatened to take your grandchild away from you. Miranda would never have allowed it. You let him manipulate you,” I yell at my parents. All the pent-up hostility over the breakup is now coming out in this one phone call, but my questions are met with silence.
“It sounds like we might have caught you at a bad time, sweetheart. Let us know who the lovely woman is, so we can add her name to place cards because they are at the calligrapher as we speak. Have a wonderful holiday, and we will see you when you get home.” And with that, my mother hangs up on me.
I’m in shock over that entire conversation.
With as much strength as I can muster, I throw my phone, and it hits the wall with a thud, then smashes to the floor.
I pull my hand from Eloise’s.
I can’t breathe.
I can’t fucking breathe.
I need air.
The walls of the villa feel as if they’re caving in on me.
I can’t do this.
Not here.
Not withher.
Next thing I know, I’m turning on my heel and rushing out of the villa.