NICE GIRL TO LOVE (THE COMPLETE THREE-BOOK COLLECTION)(79)

“Is that your big plan for court?” Brian’s voice was boiling mad now. “To call mom an alcoholic and Connor a bastard?”

“Of course not. I’m simply going to help the judge see that while your ‘mom’ did nothing but drink her days away, I was working nonstop and taking care of our family. A family that started off with a pregnancy she sprung on me during our engagement—the illegitimate heir who I’ve been more than financially generous with and who I’ve helped mold into the fine, successful citizen he is today.”

Abby shuddered, every word out of his mouth was making her skin crawl.

“You’re painting a bullshit story,” growled Brian. “I’ll have mom’s lawyer depose me to set the record straight; I’ll tell the judge the real story behind the entire money situation.”

“By all means, son, go ahead. Go ahead and tell the judge how your evil, evil father offered you and Beth a large sum of money to help build a life away from the recriminating eyes here—money that you threw back in my face…the same day you begged me to help when you learned your half-brother would soon not have even a penny to his name. And while you’re at it, do remember to tell the court how I moved legal mountains to then let you have your grandfather’s inheritance early while also allowing Connor to keep the inheritance he never would have gotten due to his lack of blood ties.”

“That’s not how it happened and you know it,” raged Brian.

Marcus tsked. “Really? Because that’s how I remember it. I distinctly remember that after you and I had our little talk, I found it in my heart to contest your grandfather’s definition of an heir—the direct result of which was Connor immediately using his entire inheritance to buy the home you’re currently living in now.” He paused for what was clearly dramatic effect. “And if that wasn’t bad enough, this monster of a father didn’t stop there; he then paid for the three years of tuition at Stanford, where his illegitimate child earned the dual JD/MBA degree that has made him into the success he is today…in the law firm with ‘Sullivan’ on the name plate, no less.”

Abby gasped. Marcus had played both his sons like pawns in a no-lose chess match for himself. He’d indebted both sons to him, and all they’d been trying to do was look out for one another. And the worst part was that neither knew that the other had struck a deal with the devil on their behalf.

“Oh,” Marcus continued in a triumphant tone, “and don’t leave out the part about Connor’s success being the very thing that has allowed him to pay for the bulk of Beth’s medical and care home expenses as well. The judge should definitely hear that.”

Brian’s jaw was clenched tight as he stood there silently, unable to dispute anything the awful man had said.

“All I’m doing is telling the judge the truth, Brian—it would be unjust for your mother to request half of what she hasn’t worked a day in her life to earn. She was a manipulative disgrace as a wife and a failure as a mother. So I had a few transgressions…who could blame me? Considering the toxic family life I had to go home to.”

“And yes, it’s true that I don’t have to go into quite as much detail about Connor, especially not in the presence of everyone he sees in and out of the court room on a daily basis. But I’m tired, son. Tired of Connor spitting in my face. Without me, he’d be nothing.”

Abby burst forward and yanked the door out from Brian’s grip. “He would’ve been far better off without you!”

A nasty smile lit Marcus’ face. “Ah, and here she is, the paragon that is proving to be quite the heart collector. Nice to see you again, Abby. And with a different Sullivan, no less. I hope this one is more to your liking than the last.”

Abby winced as if she’d been struck.

Brian moved forward to shield Abby from Marcus’ condemning stare. “I’ve heard enough. Get the hell off my property.”

“Tut-tut. Again, not your property. Your bastard half-brother’s.”

When Abby all but snarled at him under her breath, Marcus turned back to her with his brows cocked with interest, like a predator smelling fresh blood. “Oh, now what’s this? Brian, is your perfect angel still hung up on Connor?” A snide grin slid across his face. “Wow, it really is true what they say—sons do end up falling for women exactly like their mothers. What is it with us Sullivan men and our weakness for two-timing whores?”




BRIAN SNAPPED. He grabbed his father by the lapels of his suit and threw him against the doorframe. Heaving with rage, he couldn’t even form a sentence, let alone words beyond feral snarls as he drew his fist back.

The sudden sight of Abby’s face crouching in his field of vision was the only thing that kept his fist from descending, kept him tethered to his sanity. She fastened both hands on his face and was uttering something, her expression filled with alarmed concern, and wholly traumatized. Brian waited for the blood to stop roaring in his ears so he could make out what she was saying.

“I don’t care what he says about me, Brian. Hold it together. Come back to me.” She repeated the words he’d said to her when she’d been ready to crumble in front of Gabriella. “It’s just you and me here, no one else. Come back to me.”

Dusting off his designer suit as he got up, Marcus spat out spitefully, “Don’t you mean, you, Brian, and Connor?”