Page 102 of Heart Breaker

I shake my head. “I just…I never wanted to disappoint you and Mom.”

“Just tell us what has you so upset,” he says, softly. “We’ll take it one piece of the puzzle at a time.”

I draw a slow, unsteady breath.

And I tell them everything. By the time the last word leaves my mouth, my throat feels raw. Not once do either of my parents interrupt. Mom’s hand finds Dad’s somewhere in the middle of my explanation, their fingers lacing together as they listen.

Dad’s expression barely changes, but I know him well enough to catch every flicker. The tightening of his jaw. The crease that settles between his brows. The slow exhale he lets out when I explain why Wes and I got married in the first place. Mom’s emotions are written all over her face. Surprise followed by disbelief. She dabs at her eyes as she listens.

I leave out the parts that belong only to Wes and me—the quiet moments, the kisses, the nights that changed everything. Some memories are ours to keep. Everything else, I give them. The truth—every painful, messy piece of it. When I finally fall silent, the room seems impossibly still. The only sound is the grandfather clock ticking in the hallway.

Dad leans back in his recliner, his gaze drifting toward the ceiling. He stays there for several long moments, saying nothing at all.

“I should’ve known.” He lets out a slow breath, his eyes meeting mine. “That something didn’t add up. You’re my daughter, Lottie. I’ve known you your whole life. You would’ve never gotten married without us unless something bigger was going on. I kept telling myself you were just swept up in the excitement.” He shakes his head. “But every now and then I’d think…” He pauses. “This isn’t my Lottie.”

My heart cracks. “I’m sorry.”

Dad gives me a small shake of his head. “Don’t apologize for trying to protect me.”

His eyes drift to Wes before returning to me. “Just answer me one thing.”

I nod.

“If you could go back to that day…” His voice is quiet. “Knowing what you know now… would you still marry him?”

I don’t hesitate. “In a heartbeat.”

A small, tired smile tugs at his mouth.

“You’re not angry?” I ask, my voice barely holding together. “I lied to you.”

Mom is the first to answer, “Oh, sweetheart.”

She scoots to the edge of the couch, her eyes soft with understanding. She exchanges a quick look with my dad before looking back at me. “We’re not mad at you,” she says gently.

“I don’t have the energy for that anymore,” my dad says. “And even if I did, what good would it do?”

I blink back another wave of tears.

“You made a decision because you were trying to protect the people you love.” His eyes drift to Wes. “And from what I can tell, you accidentally fell in love with the man sitting beside you. And he fell in love with you.”

I let out a shaky laugh.

“I did,” Wes tells him.

My dad nods. “Lottie…” He waits until I meet his eyes. “You were willing to marry a man you barely knew because you thought it would help me.”

My chin trembles. “I would’ve done anything.”

“I know you would’ve.” His voice cracks for the first time. “And that’s the part that breaks my heart.”

A tear slips down my cheek.

“You should’ve never felt like my illness was yours to carry,” he says. “I hope I never made you feel that way.”

I shake my head. “It never felt like a burden.”

“I know.” He smiles sadly. “Because that’s who you are.”