Chapter 0018
ALEXANDER
I was a fucking idiot.
Since the day I met her as a kid, Bailee Evans had been the only one who could get to me. Whenever she was around, all my
control snapped.
Now, I had to deal with the fallout of my actions once again.
Only this time, it was worth it because it was for her and Caleb Johnson had it coming.
Caleb had no right to yell at, touch, or even be near Bailee at this point. I knew it wasn’t normal to feel this protective, but
with our past it felt justifiable. Plus, Ben would want me looking out for his sister
My mugshot would be on every tabloid and news channel first thing in the morning, and I would take it with a smile after seeing Caleb’s face smashed in.
“How did you get out of jail?” Bailee asked, crossing her arms over her chest as she popped her hip out
At least she still had a fire in her after everything she had been through. I used to love bickering with her and hearing her
We would banter back and forth until I couldn’t take it anymore and had to lean in to kiss her, to press my body against hers
just to get her to stop talking.
What would it be like to do that now? She was even more stunning, even with her eyes bloodshot and the black smudges under them from crying.
Of course, now she was a woman. Before, we had just been teenagers,
I had no idea who she was today or what she would feel like.
‘Stop thinking like that, I thought, shoving down all thoughts and feelings. Making amends had been at the front of my mind for years. Eventually, I had to push it to the back of my mind to move on with my life.
But now, she was back, and from the hate in her eyes, I was positive it was too late. A “sorry” wouldn’t cut it to get back into her good graces
But that wouldn’t stop me. I had her back and I wouldn’t let her go again.
“Worried about me?” I asked as I looked her over. I couldn’t help myself. She looked incredible, but I also wanted to make sure that shitbag hadn’t hurt her before I arrived.
“Not in the slightest.” She snapped back, and I smiled as I nodded. Still a spitfire,
“It wasn’t jail. It was a holding cell, and your prick of an ex has already dropped the charges. He admitted that he got it wrong and someone else attacked him.” I looked around the room, glancing at the back door to confirm it was still locked, then to the windows, seeing they were all closed
I wanted to ensure she was safe before she turned in for the night, but I also couldn’t look her in the eyes. She would be furious and probably blame me if she found out who he had falsely accused
No. I KNEW she would blame me.
“He framed someone.” She nodded knowingly as she spoke, but her fast breathing gave away that the thought bothered her far more than she cared to admit.
“He seems to have a habit of lying, but no one will be punished for my choices. I guarantee that.”
The man sitting at the county jail would be out within a few days, and I would make sure he was swimming in enough money
1/2
to retire anywhere in the world for having to deal with the consequences of my actions.
+25 BONUS
Caleb had a short temper, but even he knew that openly dragging my name through the mud wouldn’t just look bad on me. It would look bad on him, too.
The city loved me.
I volunteered where and when I could, donated money to charities constantly, and provided mom–and–pop shops across town with consistent business, preferring to hire them for my company’s events instead of a large chain restaurant.
He wanted to take me down, but he didn’t want anyone to know the shady lengths he had gone to and the lies he had told in
order to do it
He hadn’t earned the trust of the city yet. I had. It would be his word against mine, and we both knew people would be bound to believe me over him.
“Huh. From what I remember, you used to make really shitty choices and found it funny when other people were punished for them.. and hurt by them.” She swallowed hard, and the weight on my chest grew heavier.
I knew I had hurt her, but it was the last thing I had wanted.
I had loved her more than anything in the world. We may have just been teens back then, but I had been convinced she was the one
Then things happened, I lost her,
I was a different man now.
I was not sure if she was a different woman, but there was one thing I knew for sure.
She was mine and I won’t let her go.
“Look, Bailer the way we ended “I started, but Bailee scoffed before cutting me off.
“Was just that. The end. So there is no need to bring it up now. Take your credit card and get out of my brother’s house.” She uncrossed her arms, pointing at the front door for me to leave, but I couldn’t do it.
I won’t walk away from her again.
