Chapter 35
Caden
While Lizzie went shopping for oils, bottles and God knows what else, I caught up with work.
A new sense of purpose filled me. We'd convinced the immigration officer our marriage wasn't a sham. I could forge ahead and do all the things I'd planned.
This weekend, I would go to North Carolina, and if the property were right for Gallagher Holdings, I would make an offer. I could project manage two renovations at once. I was so fired up, I felt I could do anything.
I wasn't in a hurry to move back to my apartment in Manhattan. I wouldn't sell it in case I needed it, but small town living suited me. I liked waking up and smelling the ocean. I liked running along the beach and watching the sunset from the cliff outside our front door. But most of all, I liked being with Lizzie.
I liked knowing I could come home to her arms and her smile. We had a chemistry I deny. A few weeks ago, I thought when I'd secured my green card, I'd move on and only check in with Lizzie every now and again. But now I wanted more than that.
What would she think about a Christmas wedding? One where all my family could attend. The hotel part of the club wouldn't be ready, but our house had four spare rooms, and from what she'd told me, her father's house had a plethora of unused space.
She'd changed me. She'd shown me what love could and should be. She'd shown me trust and honesty. I'd be forever in her debt.
I lost myself in projections and spreadsheets and didn't notice the time until the sound of a car crunching over the gravel caught my attention. I glanced out of the window.
Beaufort's car stopped outside. He got out and limped toward the house, holding a file in his hands. Not even my father-in-law's unexpected arrival could dampen my mood.
Before he had the chance to knock on the door, I opened it, and said, "Lizzie isn't here."
"I'm not here to see Elizabeth." He stalked into the sitting room and sat. "I want you out of my daughter's life, and I want the club back."
"I love Lizzie, and as for the club, it'll be a cold day in hell before I walk away from that."
Beaufort threw the file on the table, and a sheaf of papers fell out. "Read those."
I picked some sheets up and skimmed my eyes over them. They were emails. My emails discussing the club and Lizzie.
"I have every email you sent me and every phone call you made to me was recorded. You got what you came for now I want what's mine."
The old bastard was attempting to blackmail me. He wouldn't get away with it.
"Take your emails and get the fuck out of my house. I'm going nowhere. And since we're getting everything out in the open, did you tip immigration off?"
"It wasn't me. But if you don't get out of my little girl's life, I'll send them everything I have. Are you willing to risk that for her?"
"She's a twenty-eight-year-old woman, not a little girl. And if you tell them anything, she could go to prison."
"There's nothing here to indict her. It's all you. My lawyer will play it off as a naive young woman who was fooled by someone only out for his own good."
"You wouldn't humiliate her like that. For God's sake, man, she's your daughter."
"Exactly, and she needs protecting from you."
"She needs protecting from you more like."
"I want you gone by the end of today, and I expect an email from your lawyers reverting the club back to me."
Exasperated, I tore my fingers through my hair. "Don't do this to her. I love her."
"If you love her, you'll leave her. Or maybe a few years in prison might toughen her up."
My fists clenched and I was second's way from punching the living daylights out of Beaufort. But if I did that, I wouldn't stop until he was dead.
"I don't think I've met a more heartless bastard in my life. I won't give you the club. I won't sign it over so you can run it into the ground."
"Maybe this'll teach you not to double cross me. We agreed 60/40, and when I was lying in hospital, you conned my daughter into giving you 75/25."
"I didn't con Lizzie into anything. She made a sound business decision. Without me, the place would have been razed to the ground."
Beaufort stood. "You have—" he looked at his watch,"—four hours to get out of Sundown Sands. You're not welcome here." He strode toward the door and turned back briefly, "Don't ever set foot here again. And don't mention my visit to my daughter. As soon as you get your citizenship sorted, let me know, and then I'll have Elizabeth file for a divorce."
"You can't manipulate her anymore. She's stronger than that."
Beaufort smirked. "Once she learns you walked out on her, whatever confidence she had will plummet, and I'll be there to pick up the pieces. She'll listen to anything I tell her."
"I hope you rot in hell."
"I'll save a spot for you," he said then left.
"Fuck." I grabbed the emails, tore them up and threw them in the fire. "Fucking bastard." I dropped onto a chair and scrubbed my hands over my face. What choice did I have? I didn't need the headache Beaufort threatened, but most of all, I didn't want Lizzie getting into trouble because of me, because of what I'd done, because of what I'd made her. What was I going to tell her? The old bastard had made it clear not to mention his name. If I didn't play by his rules, he would make both Lizzie and I pay.
How long I sat in the one spot trying to figure a way out of this mess, I didn't know, but the sun had set, and darkness shrouded the room.
I had to leave her.
I had to give Beaufort what he wanted. Emotionally, the club meant nothing to me, but it meant everything to Lizzie. She wouldn't get the treatment spa she dreamed off. Or the organic gardens and greenhouses I'd secretly planned for her. There would be no boutique hotel or award-winning golf course. I gave it four months at the most before Beaufort lost all the money he'd made from our deal.
Car lights lit up the driveway, and the sound of the car door shutting felt like a gun shot to my heart. Lizzie—my Lizzie—was home.
Nausea roiled around my stomach, but I had to do this. I had to break her heart. I sucked in a breath and walked into the hallway. She rushed through the front door with bags hanging from her arms and hands. Her green eyes shone with excitement, and happiness flushed her face. Happiness I was about to take away from her.
"Elizabeth, we have to talk."