Unbreak Me (23 page)

Molly never slept a wink. She twisted and turned the whole night, her guilt being the driving force behind the ache in her heart. She felt bad that she’d driven him from his home. Even more so, she was terribly on edge, knowing she’d pushed him away.

Stupid bitch
, she thought to herself as she finished cleaning the counter, putting the dry dishes back in the cupboard. Occupying herself until the car came.

“I should never have come,” she muttered as she picked up her phone, scrolling through it until she found the number she wanted.

Sitting, Molly dialed the number and waited for an answer.

“Hey, Jenna, I think I’ve screwed up.”

Tears fell, streaking her pale cheeks.

“What’s wrong?” Jenna asked.

“Everything,” she cried. “I thought I was over this. I was so sure that all those feelings were dead, but they weren’t and now I’ve hurt him and I know there’s no coming back from this.”

“Molly, slow down,” Jenna said, her calm voice and controlled. “Where are you?”

“In Capitola, at Connor’s place.”

“Do you want me to come get you?”

“No, Connor’s arranged for a car… That’s not the problem.”

“What is?”

“I love him and I’ve pushed him away. Who does something like that?” Molly couldn’t hold it in. The anger, the pain, the heartache and the guilt—a whole cluster of emotions she’d kept locked away, hidden from everyone, including herself.

“Molly, you’ve not been yourself, you’ve had a hard time, and recovering from the accident has been hard, but you know what? You’re a tough cookie, don’t ever question that,” Jenna said. “Here’s the thing—you push everyone away, you’ve done it for as long as I can remember. It’s part of who you are. The whole trust thing. It’s an issue. So my advice to you is if you want Connor, if you truly love him, then you’ve got to let the guy in. Stop beating yourself up over the past. Forget it, move on and live for now, because life will pass you by and you will have so many regrets they’ll eat you alive on your deathbed.”

Molly knew Jenna was right. She was always honest and blunt, but it was what she needed. She didn’t need anyone pussy footing around her. She needed cold, hard facts, and though they hurt, it was the bitter truth.

“I don’t know how to fix this.”

“Don’t dwell on that now. Just wait until you get back to the apartment. I’ll stop by and we can figure this out together. Okay?”

“Deal!” Molly said, ending the call, mindlessly staring out at the mellow sea.

Molly had never been this hung up over a guy before. Connor had her in a mindless state of despair. A restless energy that had her biting her nails, pacing the floors, thinking, chastising herself for how she had treated him. She didn’t even know where he lived or where he would be. All she could think of was that she had to tell him her true feelings and try to salvage what they had before it was too late.

* * * *

The ride back to the city was the longest ever. Molly sat in the back of the Mercedes, thinking, and too much thinking led to a headache that had her eyes blinded by the light when they finally pulled up outside her apartment block. The driver got out, opened the door and held it as Molly got out.

“Thank you,” she said as she lifted her bag and walked inside, knowing Regina would be waiting for her.

Molly took her time and was in no rush to hear the ‘I told you so’ or the ‘What were you thinking?’ speech. She didn’t need it. In fact, she was sure she’d have a pretty good response to anything Regina intended saying. She wasn’t a child and didn’t need the lecture. She knew it had been a bad idea, she just needed to make things right.

Opening the door, she could hear Regina from the bedroom. Throwing her bag, she walked into Regina and Aggie’s room and saw Regina on her knees, putting some of Aggie’s belongings inside.

“What are you doing?”

“I think it’s about time I sorted through this clutter,” Regina replied as she folded some clothes, setting them inside.

“But… It’s too soon,” Molly muttered as she sat on the end of the bed.

“No, it’s been nearly a year. I think Aggie would rest better if she thought some poor soul out there got some use out of her things.”

“Maybe,” Molly replied, lifting one of Aggie’s silk scarves, smelling it as her tears began to slip down.

Regina looked up at Molly, her own eyes full of grief. “This was never going to be easy, but it’s the right time.”

Nodding, Molly knelt beside Regina and began folding a small pile of clothes. Everything smelled of Aggie’s sweet musk perfume. Everything brought her grief to the surface. So much guilt, so much anger—regret.

“How was last night?” Regina asked as she sealed a box with some tape.

“It was…a disaster.”

“How so?”

“I don’t need the sermon,” Molly said, completely jumping the gun.

“I wasn’t going to give one. But since you mentioned it, what happened?” Regina asked as she stopped what she was doing, looking at Molly, waiting for answers.

“Nothing happened, that’s the thing. I totally rejected him. I made him feel like the world’s biggest loser.”

“I told you that it was a bad idea. There’s too much that went wrong between you. The timing isn’t right,” Regina said as she stood, holding out her hand to Molly. “How about some cocoa?”

Molly’s eyes were full of tears, her nose was red raw. She glanced at Regina’s hand and took it. “Okay.”

Stirring the milky contents, Molly stared out of the window, her mind blank, not wanting to think any longer.

“Molly, you’re like a daughter to me, so anything you do, or say, will always cause me to have an opinion,” Regina said as she touched Molly’s arm. “Your accident, whether you don’t want to admit it, was a result of what happened between you and Connor. He may not have made you drink or walk out in front of that car, but the fact remains, if things hadn’t transpired the way they did, then none of this would have happened.”

Molly looked at her. “I know.”

“I don’t want to be a killjoy. Hell, I know what it’s like to love, but Connor, regardless of his good intentions, may not be the one after all.”

“But how can I get over him when he’s all I want?” Molly cried. “There’s this little part of me that blames him for everything, then the other part of me that wants to run into his arms, get lost in him and just be his. Is that so wrong?”

“Baby girl,” Regina said as she held Molly’s hand. “Of course it’s not wrong. But can you get past the wedge that’s been created? Can you, hand on your heart, say that you won’t throw things in his face when times get tough, because, honey, no relationship, no matter how in love you are, runs smoothly. Are you able to leave the past where it belongs and move forward with your life? Because if you can’t, then I’m afraid the relationship would be doomed from day one.”

Molly sat staring into space, completely deflated, and the only thing that pressed on her mind was Connor. Was she throwing the chance of a lifetime away based on pride and stubbornness?

The doorbell rang.

Molly sat upright, her posture rigid. Days like that were the kind that drained her mentally and physically.

“Come right in, Jenna, we’re in the kitchen,” Regina’s voice echoed from the hallway.

Jenna’s footsteps were loud on the wooden floor. When she popped her head in the doorway, her broad smile beamed as she waved to Molly. “Now why so glum?”

“She’s lovesick,” Regina said as she walked past her, lifting her cup. “And it seems that our little lamb is lost.”

“Then we’d better point her in the right direction, hmm?”

Jenna sat down on a chair beside Molly, folding her arms across her chest. She was clearly waiting for her to say something.

“What?” Molly asked.

“If you want this man, then you are going to have to cut out this whole bullshit of sitting here, wallowing. No one likes pity parties and we both know how those end so buckle up, and do what you want to do.” Jenna was pretty direct when she spoke. “Where’s the girl with the fire in her heart?”

“Burning.” Molly sighed.

“See, this is what it’s like,” Regina complained. “If you love this man, regardless of his indiscretion, then you and only you need to let him know.”

“Gina’s right and you know it,” Jenna was quick to back her up.

“I broke his heart last night. He told me he loved me and I rejected him. Who does something like that? A cold-hearted bitch, that’s who. Maybe I’m like my folks after all.”

“Want some cake to go with all the woe?” Jenna asked, not giving in to her self-deprecation.

“Fuck off,” Molly said in defense.

“Hey, less of that,” Regina piped in. “Aggie would have given you a good slap for that.”

Regina was right. If there was one thing Aggie hated more than marshmallows, it was bad language. The two left a nasty taste in her mouth and she didn’t allow either in the apartment.

“Sorry,” Molly muttered as she held her cup of cocoa in her hands.

“Molls, you need to chase your dreams. If you want him, then go get him.” Jenna again was straight to the point.

“Yeah, about that,” Molly said, raising her eyebrows, “do you happen to know where he lives, or, erm, maybe, where Ellison Enterprises is? Maybe Barry can do a little digging for me?”

Both Regina and Jenna looked at each other, sighing and shaking their heads.

“Only you, Molly, only you!” Regina said.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

“Here, have some more bacon,” Eleanor said as she handed the platter to Connor, who sat across from her.

“The flight will leave tomorrow,” John said as he ate a mouthful of sausage.

“I thought Monday?” Connor inquired.

“Yes, but we had some changes to make. Liao Minsheng wishes to meet you in person, introduce you to some of the directors before he leaves for Europe on Tuesday. Edward will be going with you. I’ve promoted him and he’s a good asset to the Hong Kong branch.” John sipped at his coffee, observing Connor the whole time.

“I see,” Connor muttered. His appetite wasn’t great. He struggled to eat as his mother continued to ply him with food.

“Liao is more than happy to shadow you once he’s back from his trip. He’s keen to show you the ropes and I am sure you will get on with him,” John said as he sat back, looking very pleased with himself.

“How was your trip to the beach house last night?” Eleanor asked, raising an eyebrow.

Connor knew nothing was ever sacred. He could never have a private life, not when he was here, under their snooping eyes. Maybe Hong Kong would serve as a great way to do what he wanted. Maybe he’d never come back.

Just as they were finishing up, heels clicked on the terrace. “Apologies for being late, I got held up at the spa,” Marissa said as she sat down beside Connor.

Connor spurned her advances. The sheer thought of her touching him sickened him to the pit of his stomach. He despised her. Everything about her was poisonous and evil. He didn’t want her in his life.

“I thought this morning was all about family?”

Eleanor smirked as she stirred sugar into her tea. “Of course it is. Marissa is a huge part of this family.”

“You can never leave it alone, can you, Mother?” Connor’s jaw clenched as his eyes bore into his mother’s. “Forever sticking your nose in where it’s not wanted.”

“Oh, stop causing a scene, Connor. It truly doesn’t become you. I blame that God-awful girl. She’s influenced you in a way that truly doesn’t suit you. The sooner you forget about her, the sooner you will begin to focus on the things that matter.” Eleanor smirked as she sipped at her tea.

Between Marissa and his mother, he couldn’t decide who he hated the most.

“Oh yes, I remember her. The skinny little thing that thought she could fill shoes that were evidently two sizes too big,” Marissa gave her two cents’ worth. “Silly how some of these fools think they can come along and take what’s not theirs.”

Reaching over, she tried to touch Connor’s hand, only to have him push her away. “Get your fucking hands off me.”

“Connor!” his mother gasped.

“I think you ought to leave, Marissa,” John said as he stood.

“What? Why? I’m here to support Connor.”

“The hell you are. You are no better than her,” he shouted, pointing to his wife. “Always sticking your nose in where it’s not wanted. Guess what, Marissa, the world doesn’t revolve around you and your fake tits.” That earned him a slap across the face. “Oh, and furthermore, I can categorically say that you give the worst head going. You might do well to get in a bit more practice if you fancy yourself marrying a millionaire. And for the record, Molly is in a league of her own. Your dirty money could never buy that kind of class. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have things to do that do not concern you…”

Looking at his father, he smirked before walking away.

Sometimes, Connor surprised himself. Just every once in a while he had the balls to stand up for something he believed in, and right at that precise moment, he stood up for Molly and rebelled against everything his world stood for. Money or not, manners were something that didn’t cost a dime, and Marissa proved she had neither class nor manners.

Before Connor got into his car, his father had followed him onto the driveway. “Listen, Connor, I know that things have been strained.”

“You reckon?”

“Your mother gets a little ahead of herself,” he said, running his hand through his thinning hair. “Marissa has been your mother’s preferred choice from day one. I, on the other hand… I don’t believe in controlling that aspect of your life.”

“No? So, it’s just my working life you want to control?”

“That’s not fair, Connor, and you know it.”

Leaning against the side of the car, the two looked at the ground. John slid his hands into his pocket. “If I can’t count on you to keep things ticking over for me, then who can I count on? When I die, all this goes to you. Your brother, I love him, but he’s not cut out for this industry, but you are.”

“Dad, I… How am I meant to run things like you and Carl?”

“You’ve been doing well up until the merger. What happened?”