Chantelle plopped on the couch as her eyesstung with tears. Covering her face with her hands, she sobbed. Howdid things change overnight?
***
Lance cut his car’s engine in front of hishouse, only to find his mother’s BMW parked a few feet away. Didshe come with his father? He hadn’t talked to him since he put inhis resignation at the office.
He stalked to his front door, and Dottiegreeted him. She gestured her head to the living room, and Lancemade his way to meet up with his mother. Sure enough, his motherpaced his living room with her hands on her hips.
“Why do I have to find out about yourcanceled engagement through the news? I don’t even know what TMZstands for, but your story is all over it,” she said throughgritted teeth.
“We broke up. Andrea flew out after ourdinner two nights ago.” He answered.
“And again, you’re telling me this now?” Shehuffed. “What will people say? The catering deposit isnonrefundable. I’ll be the talk of the town.”
“You’ll be the talk?”
“My son is ‘Most Eligible Bachelor.’ What didyou think would happen? I can only imagine the looks on people’sfaces at our gala this year.”
He shook his head. “You won’t even ask me howI am. Aren’t you curious that I wasn’t happy? Perhaps Andrea wasn’thappy?”
His mother tapped her fingers to her lips. “Ibet it had something to do with the prenuptial agreement.”
“What prenup? I never asked Andrea to sign aprenup?”
His mother didn’t. When would her meddlingstop?
“That’s where you made a mistake. I mentionedit to her at our dinner.”
“Why would you do that?”
His mother waved away his question. “It’s areality. I know you probably bought into the fantasy that you wouldbe together forever, but how many marriages go down the drain intoday’s society? Fifty percent. You will not lose everything youworked for in this family just for a pretty face. Looks fade, andshe could turn on you.” His mother snapped her fingers. “In amoment.”
Lance could only stare at his mother. Hislips parted, and though no words came, his fists clenched.
His mother met his stare. “She didn’t tellyou, did she? Well, that only proves that she loves you for you anddidn’t want to rock the boat. Unless she called things off becauseof it. I’m not one to suggest divorce—”
A heavy sigh escaped his lips with a loudgroan. “Mom, stop!”
Her eyebrows raised. “You watch your tonewith me.”
He threw his arms up. “I’ve taken all I cantake! I love you, but this has to stop. Between you and Dad, you’retearing me apart. I hate we lost Amelia, but ever since she diedyou’ve become obsessed with my life. Where I go to school. Whom Imarry. I put up with it because I felt sorry for you, but you’veruined me! I lost the woman I love!”
“Andrea will come to her senses. All you haveto do is apologize.”
He bared down on his teeth. “I’m not talkingabout Andrea. Yes, I love her, but not enough to marry her. Shefelt the same way about me. We agreed to call things off. Why thepress is spreading a story about infidelity, I don’t know, but I’llfind out. I love Chantelle, and I always will.” He paced the floor.“I shouldn’t have let you talk me out of our marriage.”
His mother’s eyebrows furrowed. “It was forthe best, son. We were only thinking of you.”
He gave a mirthless laugh. “You thought Ididn’t know my own mind. You assumed I wouldn’t do the rightthing.” He stared at her. “You thought I would abandon her likemost guys do when they get a girl pregnant. I didn’t. I did theright thing.”
“What is going on in here?” A deep voiceinterrupted.
His mother sat on the couch, folding herfingers in her lap.
Lance met his father’s gaze. “An overdueintervention.”
“Are you alright?” He asked his wife.
His mother didn’t speak. She only staredahead.
His father’s nostrils flared. “What did yousay to her? Haven’t you disappointed your mother enoughalready?”
He heard his father correctly. There was nomuffling in Lance’s ears. Despite the knot in his stomach, he spokeup. “Which time, Dad? When I got Chantelle pregnant? When I quitthe firm? When I ran off and married her? When we lost your onlygrandchild?”
His father opened his mouth, but no responsecame.
Lance shook his head. “This family has tochange. I’m not a puppet for you two to control. Why do you think Imoved out here and didn’t stay closer in town? To get some spacefrom you both! You raised me to be a man of my word, and when I dothat, you tell me it embarrasses the family. Well... I hate tobreak it to you, but this ends now. You either support me and mychoices, or you can forget you have a son.”
His father raised his eyebrows. “Have youlost your mind?”
“I think I got it back.” He paused for asecond to regain his composure. “So here’s the deal. I’m notmarrying Andrea. I’m going to clean up this mess. I’m not comingback to the firm. I’m working on Amelia’s Foundation fulltime.”
His mother finally interjected. “Lance youcan’t mean—”
He raised his hand to stop her. “And, I’mgoing to convince Chantelle to stay here. If not, I’m going withher.” He released a deep breath. A weight lifted from his chest. “Iwant you both to leave. I’ll let you know when I want to talk toyou again.”
“Lance, I...” His mother’s eyes welled withtears. Then she hurried out of the room, as cries escaped hermouth.
Lance met his father’s gaze, noting hisdown-turned facial features. Then he left him alone. With aheavy-footed walk, Lance proceeded to his room. He plopped on hisbed as the day raced through his mind.
Chapter 25
Chantelle petted Pepper’s fur as shereclined in bed. She’d deactivated her social media accounts for awhile. The comments were too much. No one wanted the truth. Theyonly wanted someone to blame. Despite the few fans that stood upfor her, the trolls drowned them out.
Her career was over. It was a matter of timebefore Brenda called and told her they fired her.
