Whitney sputters beside me, but I’m not going to make her defend herself. Not now and never again. I don’t care that the accuser is my own mother.

“That’s where you’re wrong. She could have had every single cent through me, Mother. She didn’t need to marry him to get anything.”

My mother gasps and slaps a hand to her chest, but I know if the revelation about the paternity suit didn’t trigger an episode, this one is bullshit.

“Don’t try to pretend it’s your heart. I’m not falling for it this time.”

Her face screws up into a pissed-off glare. “How dare you say I’m pretending!”

“You’ve been using your heart condition to manipulate us for years. It’s not going to work anymore.”

She gasps. “See! She’s turning you against me. That’s exactly what she wants. She wants to drive a wedge into the heart of this family and tear us apart.”

Whitney sucks in a breath, and I press her tighter to my side. “No, Mother. You’ve managed to do that all by yourself.”

My mother’s eyes narrow. “It’s time to choose. Her, or your family.” Her gaze cuts to Whitney. “I hope you’re happy about what you’ve done. You couldn’t stay away. You had to tear us all apart, just like your mother.”

Whitney tries to pull away from me, but I keep my arm locked around her. I’m not letting her go again.

“You want me to choose, Mother? I will.”

Forty-Three

Whitney

Mrs. Riscoff’s words are shredding my soul. Somehow, I knew it would come to this. I knew she would make it an either-or situation. She could never let Lincoln and me be together.

I can’t let him choose between us. I can’t be the reason a family is torn apart. My mother already did that, and I refuse to do the same.

“Stop. Both of you.” I jerk away from Lincoln’s side so I can turn and see his face.

“Whitney.”

“No, just listen to me for a minute.” I hate how my voice shakes, but that doesn’t stop me from saying what I need to say. “You only get one mother. Maybe you don’t appreciate her now, and maybe you have differences, but you only get one.” Tears fill my eyes. “I would do anything to have another day with my mom. Anything. I didn’t realize how important she was before I lost her, and I won’t let you do this. I won’t be the one who comes between you.”

“Blue—”

Lincoln’s brow creases with the same pain that’s tearing me apart, but I know I’m doing the right thing. There is no other alternative.

“No. I won’t let you choose between us, Lincoln. I can’t be responsible for that decision.”

I shake my head as tears track down my face. I was doing so great at being positive and looking at the future with hope, but I should have known better. That’s not how things work for me.

I swallow, finding the strength to say this last part, and meet Lincoln’s anguished hazel gaze. “I’ll leave before I’ll let you choose. I never should have come back. All I’ve done is cause pain for the people I care about. I’m done. I’m gone.”