Read Online Beyond Chance by Karice Bolton - Free Book Online Page A

more in
love with you than life itself.”
    Her words immediately warmed me, but it
quickly turned to suspicion. She obviously still had feelings for
Aaron so why was she being so nice?
    “Well, thank you for that. I love him more
than I thought possible. He’s been…” my voice trailed off. Why was
I talking to his ex-fiancée about how much I loved the very man
she’d been staring at before I interrupted her?
    Elizabeth folded her arms in front of her
and took in a deep breath. “You didn’t know about me, did you?”
    I wasn’t sure who I felt worse for,
Elizabeth because Aaron never bothered to mention her, or me
because Aaron never bothered to mention her.
    “That’s what I thought,” she replied,
without me replying.
    Things had gone from awkward to
uncomfortable, and I began regretting my decision to introduce
myself. A breeze swept down the sidewalk and I shivered.
    “Would you like to come inside?” I asked.
“I’m sure Aaron would love to see you.”
    Elizabeth’s expression turned to horror and
she shook her head. “No. This is his night. I don’t want to take
away from that.”
    I felt lightheaded, but that didn’t stop me
from what I was about to ask. I glanced up and caught Tracy staring
out the window. Aaron was no longer around, and my heart pounded at
the thought of him coming across us. Sense was knocked to the curb,
and I blurted out what had been eating me since I found out Aaron
had been engaged.
    “Is there a good reason why he never
mentioned being engaged?”
    “I don’t know if it’s a good reason, but
there’s definitely a reason; one that he really should tell
you.”
    “What if he doesn’t?” I asked.
    “I think you already know the answer to
that. Don’t let him get away with dismissing this or—” she stopped
herself.
    She knew Aaron well. She understood his
ability to sweep things under the rug or run away, whichever was
easiest for him. I’d hoped we’d broken the latter of the two, but I
honestly didn’t know.
    Not realizing I’d been holding my breath, I
exhaled slowly and nodded.
    “Aaron was involved in something that
changed him forever. He was a broken man, Brandy. You’ve somehow
changed that. But it’s not fair for you not to truly know the man
he is. It might be easier for him, but it won’t be easier for you.
These things have a way of sneaking up on people, on couples.”
    “Tracy mentioned you and Aaron speak every
day…”
    Elizabeth rolled her eyes and looked
genuinely annoyed. “Of course she did.” She shook her head and her
arms now hung at her side. “She’s a good friend. A little too good.
But to answer your question, we are in touch almost daily whether
it’s a text or a call.”
    It felt like I’d been punched in the gut and
I became nauseous.
    “I see.” Wasn’t I supposed to be Aaron’s
confidant? These two had some sort of shared history and somehow
that was continuing to shape his future. To say I wasn’t pleased
was being kind, and I was no longer in a kind mood.
    “We’ll probably have to be in touch almost
daily for many years.” Her eyes connected with mine.
    My heart dropped at the thought of what she
was saying. Did Aaron have a child? Is that why they were in
constant contact? That would be the end. I couldn’t take someone
not telling me something so important. My heart ached, and all I
wanted to do was go back to the apartment and bury myself under the
sheets. Her voice brought me out of my endless spiral of confusion,
and I steadied my gaze on hers again.
    “He invested in a business that I started
and has been helping me grow it. The task has been difficult
because I’ve been trying to break into a category that’s pretty
small. If it hadn’t been for his guidance, my business never
would’ve even made it off the ground.”
    My body and mind felt like it had been
liberated from the ghostly hollows of my imagination. I was so
happy I wanted to kiss Elizabeth, but I restrained myself. Instead,
I