<spanng="EN">Analise’s POV


    <spanng="EN">I sat silently in the back of the SUV as they drove me to my parents‘ home. I doubted that Holden was involved. My father had been upset with not just him, but Seth, too. Dad knew Mom was the one the moment he met her. He was angry that Seth and Holden seemed to still be sowing their wild oats at thirty. They weren’t dating with the intention of marrying. They were dating people they wanted to have sex with. Yet my life was the ‘scandalous‘ one.


    <spanng="EN">Seth and Holden had argued that everyone did that these days. Most guys did it. I was d Dad agreed with me. It also brought Seth’s former indiscretions right back to the forefront. Dad had been livid with them both and had kicked them out of my hospital room. But not before dropping a bomb on them both.


    <spanng="EN">“Seth, you acted like it was imperative to get this fixed as quickly as possible, but what of your actions? You’ve had three scandals over thest four years. Never once was getting married an option for you. I’m disappointed in not just my actions, but you’re as well. You need to support her and make changes until this passes. She’s done nothing to be ashamed of,” my father told him.


    <spanng="EN">“And you, Holden, to say that I’m disappointed in you isn’t enough. It doesn’t matter that you didn’t know she was there. You spoke your truth that day. You avoided her, but now that you’ve had a change of heart, you want her to fall into your arms. It’s not going to happen. You made your choice, and now you have to live with it. Ana is allowed to marry whomever she wants. I will not step in and put a stop to it. My only wish is for her to find a man who loves her, for her. Not because she’s a Caldwell, or the owner of her ownpany. You can both leave now. Your presence here is upsetting Ana,” my father told them.


    <spanng="EN">I’ve only texted with Seth in the group text to let him and my parents know I was released. They are giving me space, probably because the guilt of what had happened was still fresh. I’m sure dinner tonight will be a way to break the ice. But I still missed Charlie. I wish he were sitting next to me tonight. I like Drew, but I don’t really know Jon yet. He seems very capable, but he’s not Charlie.


    <spanng="EN">I smiled, remembering Charlie teasing me about Jon driving, so he could sit in the back and flirt with me. I will miss him sitting next to me tonight, but I really hope that this isn’t another ambush by the Vaughn family. I didn’t want them to try ast–ditch effort to save Tiffany and have me agree to marry Holden. Because neither of those things will be happening. Rodney was adding he additional charges of the hundreds of threats against my life. All documented and submitted with the corresponding evidence.


    <spanng="EN">We both want her and Gretchen to face prison time for what they had done to me, but they probably won’t. I haven’t asked my mother how things were going between her and Naomi. I’m not going to try to push them together or force them apart. I hope their rtionship can survive it. But I’m not going to just let Tiffany go. I know her too well. She’ll never stop trying toe after me unless she learns a hard lesson. When we pulled up, we parked next to a limited–edition Bentley Bentayga. I briefly wondered who it belonged to, but dismissed it.


    <spanng="EN">Sometimes my father’s friends dropped by for business or to just have a drink and a cigar. They were probably in his study. That vehicle didn’t belong to the Vaughn family, so I wasn’t concerned about who it belonged to. Dad would join us for dinner right on time. He was an expert at time management. Drew entered in front of me, and Jon trailed behind me. I was relieved to see that no one from the Vaughn family was present. I was able to rx a little after seeing that.


    <spanng="EN">My mother and Seth greeted me with a hug and sat me between them on the sofa to catch up. Jon and Drew took up positions beside the two doors that allowed entry to the room. Standing right next to the entrance, just in case I needed them. Now that things had been brought to light. I doubt that my parents would ever consider Holden as a potential suitor anymore. I know I didn’t. Despite our family ties, that ship has long sailed.


    <spanng="EN">Holden could have done anything to support me. He could have encouraged me to eat better or exercise with him. He could have had Seth help him. I would have done anything to make Holden happy back then. But knowing how disgusted he seemed to be about me back then, had left me heartbroken. Which made what Tiffany and Gretchen did that much worse. Because I knew that they were telling the truth. It was a blow I couldn’t recover from, and one that I would never forgive.


    <spanng="EN">My mother looked at her watch before getting up and leading us to the dining room. The table was set, and I was d that I wasn’t going to have to ask for seats for Drew and Jon. The table was set for six. I motioned for them toe and sit next to me when the doorbell rang. I sat down quickly, suspecting a trap, and said, ” Drew, can you and Jone and sit next to me?”


    <spanng="EN">They hesitated for a minute, until Holden appeared in the doorway. Then they immediately came to sit next to me. “What is he doing here?” I asked.


    <spanng="EN">I was angry, and I was just toying with just standing up and leaving, when I heard another voice ask, “I agree, Ana. What exactly are you doing here, Holden?”


    <spanng="EN">My head snapped to the man standing behind Holden. Charlie was here, and I didn’t care who saw me. I got up and ran past Holden to get to Charlie. Only then was I able to calm down. Charlie remained respectful, putting me behind him, as he focused on Holden.


    <spanng="EN">“She is my fiancée, and this is none of your business. I just need to talk to her. She hasn’t let me tell her my side of things yet,” Holden said as he tried to push past Charlie.


    <spanng="EN">Charlie didn’t move and pushed back. “Fine, you can tell her the story you came up with in thest two days. I know you want to convince her that you have suddenly realized she’s worthy of you. But this is it, feel free to speak over dinner, but you need to stay away from her. I won’t allow you to touch her,” Charlie replied, his voice hard.


    <spanng="EN">The most surprising part was that my father let him. He didn’t correct or disagree with Charlie. Charlie took my hand in his and led me back to the table. The table was set for the three unexpected visitors. Charlier, Holden, and an older gentleman who seems to be very interested in the drama. Not in a gossipy way, but in a way that he found it to be greatly entertaining. If Dad knew him and approved. I didn’t mind. Come the follow weekend, the whole city will know my embarrassing story.


    <spanng="EN">We sat down at the table with my father at one end of the table, and the older gentleman at the other end. I sat between Charlie and Drew, with Jon on the other side of Charlie. My mother, Holden, and Seth sat across from me.


    <spanng="EN">“Seth, is there anything that you would like to tell me?” I fumed. It was quite the coincidence that he all of a sudden showed up after I arrived. He must have been at the Vaughn’s home to have arrived here so quickly.


    <spanng="EN">“Ana, I love you and I want you to be happy. Now that everything is out in the open, you should give Holden.


    <spanng="EN">the chance to make it right. You have to have some feelings left for him. We both want you to be happy.


    <spanng="EN">Holden is willing to wait for you, until you can learn to trust him again. He would do anything to make that happen,” Seth admitted.


    <spanng="EN">“So, let me get this straight, Seth. You went from wanting to punch your best friend out to defend my honor to forgiving him? Why? What has he done that warrants me being able to trust him again. I don’t, and probably never will. How can I get back to that point again?” I asked.


    <spanng="EN">“We think that you need to go to couples therapy, and hash everything out. He’s your best option. His family is the closest to ours in society. I see your little bodyguard trying to defend you, I can tell he likes you, but he is just after your money. You can’t trust him, Ana. Not with your heart, or with your money. He’s just a pretty boy who sees you as an easy target. You are so starving for affection, it’s obvious to see. I can’t me him, you are a catch, but he isn’t worthy enough to stand by your side. You need to know what he’s thinking, Ana. Don’t let him seduce you and allow your emotions take over. You are a Caldwell, and I don’t think you’ll be happy in the long run with your little bodyguard. I’m surprised to even see him here. I was d when you showed up and he wasn’t with you. I thought Holden would have the opportunity to beg your forgiveness and straighten this whole thing out,” Seth replied.


    <spanng="EN">“He didn’t ask to beg for forgiveness. He asked for time to tell his side of it,” Charlie mockingly replied.


    <spanng="EN">“I think we should just eat, and then your father can mediate in his study. We have guest’s, and this is inappropriate. At the end of the day, we just want Ana to be happy. Holden no longer makes Ana happy, Seth.


    <spanng="EN">If I were in her position, I wouldn’t let it slide either. You had no right to intervene in this. You swore you would leave it alone,” my mother responded.


    <spanng="EN">“It’s already out in the open, Mom, everyone here knows what happened. Go ahead, Holden. Tell me the excuse that’s going to change my mind,” I said.


    <spanng="EN">“I didn’t say it was going to change your mind, Ana. I was thoughtless with my words. I didn’t mean what I said; you don’t understand. When you are having sex, sometimes you say things. But it doesn’t mean that I meant any of them,” Holden stated. He red at Charlie, then the men sitting with us. “Look, this is a highly personal conversation. I don’t want to have it in front of them. They don’t belong here, and that guy only wants you for your money.”


    <spanng="EN">“Well, too bad, Holden, they’re not leaving. You either say whatever it is you wanted to say now, or I will be leaving with my bodyguards. The difference between you is that I trust them, but I don’t trust you. Do you really think you can just feed me lies, and I would fall into your arms? I promise you that’s not going to happen. But you’re wrong, Charlie doesn’t want me for my money, we have a connection,” I replied. I looked up at Charlie with a smile, rxing as I felt him gently squeeze my hand in support.