Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 40

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Nick POV

The second I see that crazy b**ch start to move toward Clarice, my heart sinks. All I can think about is protecting her and the baby. Without a second thought about who is watching, I appear in front of her. Loretta slams into my chest and falls flat on her a** at my feet. “Nick,” Clarice says, panicked. “What the f**k? How,” Loretta screams. Clarice steps out from behind me. I try not to laugh when she reaches down and grabs Loretta by the hair and lands a solid punch to her face. I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her back to my front before she hits her again.

“What the hell just happened? How the hell did you get over here so fast? Why the hell are you touching my wife right in front of me, you ba**ard,” Trevor asks, taking a step toward us. Clarice manages to pull out of my hold and pokes Trevor hard in the chest. “He is allowed to touch me

anytime he wants. As for our marriage, it’s over. In fact, as soon as I meet with my lawyer, you will be served divorce papers. Sign the papers Trevor. Take your little girlfriend and leave,” Clarice says.

Panic flashes in Trevor’s eyes and he grabs Clarice’s wrist. I’m just about to grab him by the collar when my strong, beautiful woman handles him herself. “Please Clarice,” he starts to say just as Clarice’s open hand connects with his cheek. He releases his grip on her and almost stumbles

back. The crazy b**ch on the floor scrambles to her feet and reaches her hand toward Trevor’s

cheek. “Are you alright, Trevor,” she asks.

Before she can touch him, he pushes her away. “Leave Loretta. This is your fault. You are the

reason my wife hates me. You seduced me. I would never have done this if it wasn’t for you. I’m

done with you,” Trevor yells in her face. As much as I would love to see her knocked on her a**

again, I won’t stand by and watch him hit her. Thankfully, Evie and Andrew pull Loretta away. “You

are wrong, Trevor. I don’t hate you. I have already told you I feel nothing for you and the only one to

blame for all of this is you,” Clarice says as she comes to stand next to me again.

“She didn’t promise to love me, forsaking all others. She didn’t promise before God and our family

that I would be her only one. That was you, so don’t you dare try to blame anyone else for the vows

you f**king broke. I never want to see either of you again, but unfortunately I have no choice but to

see you. We will work out custody once the baby is born, but for now, leave,” she says.

“Clarice, please don’t do this,” Trevor tries again to plead. “You heard Clarice. She isn’t interested

in your apologies or giving you a second chance. Get the f**k out of my place and take your

trash with you,” I say pointing at Loretta. Thomas grabs Trevor’s arm, anger in his eyes. “Let’s go. You heard Clarice, it’s over, son.” I hate how this is affecting him and Alexia. They don’t deserve this

pain because of his actions. Trevor wrenches his arm out of his father’s grip.

“She is my wife. This isn’t over. I won’t sign the papers. I don’t care what it takes, I’m getting her

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back. He can’t f**king have her,” Trevor says. He gives Clarice one last look before he stalks toward the door. He’s almost to the door when Chrissy and Jack step inside. Trevor pushes past them, and they move further into the room. “Why do I feel we missed a lot of excitement,” Chrissy says. When her eyes fall on Loretta, who still has made no move to leave, anger flashes in my sister’s

eyes.

“What the f**k is that b**ch doing here again,” she says as she starts to walk toward her. “Jack, a little assistance please” I say and Clarice giggles. He quickly grabs my sister, who is threatening to have his b*lls if he doesn’t let her go. This time it’s my turn to laugh. I’m not sure what finally snaps Loretta out of her fog, but she turns to face Clarice and me. A smug smile spreads across her face. “You never deserved him. You weren’t worthy of being his wife. It should have been me from the beginning,” she says. Clarice stares at her for a moment before she throws her head back and

laughs.

Clarice POV

“You really are a jealous b**ch. I never really noticed it when we were growing up, but the more I’ve thought about it after Nick said it, he’s right. You are pathetic. You stand there acting like you won some prize, but you didn’t. You were just a dirty secret that he kept hidden. Even now he doesn’t want you. If, by some miracle, you convince him to be with you, it will only be because he can’t have me. You’ll always be the second choice. I hope that thought eats at you for the rest of your pathetic life.”

“The minute you’re gone I won’t think about you again. I’ll be happy with a man that truly loves me. Surrounded by people that love me. So be gone, Loretta, and never darken my door again because you are nothing to me,” Clarice says. “How dare you act so smug? I took your husband. Everybody loves sweet Clarice. That’s all I’ve ever heard all my life. Well, I guess he didn’t love you enough to be faithful because he f**ked me over and over,” she says with a cackle. “Shut the f**k up, Loretta. A man that is meant for my daughter could never be taken by a nothing like you. You two belong together because you are both nothing,” my mother says.

For the first time, Loretta’s smug smile slips. She looks at my mother and then back at me. “Clarie, I didn’t mean it. I was just jealous. Please don’t cut me out. You are the only family I have left,” she starts to say. “I swear on everything, if someone doesn’t get that two–faced b**ch out of here, I’ll take the permanent place on the naughty list for beating her into the ground,” Chrissy says. I wiggle out of Nick’s hold and move to stand in front of the woman I consider my sister. “She isn’t worth it, Chrissy. She will get everything she deserves without our help.”

“I don’t want her or that pr*ck that just left upsetting you or my niece or nephew,” Chrissy says. I wrap my arms around her and Jack finally releases his hold on her. I don’t turn when Loretta starts to scream that she is my best friend and that this isn’t over. After a few seconds, she steps out of

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ris Pommi

my hold on her. I turn to face my parents and Trevor’s. Alexia and Thomas look horrified and worried. I immediately make my way over to them.

I pull Alexia in for a hug first and her body immediately relaxes. “I’m so sorry, Clarice.” “Don’t you dare apologize for them. I love you. You have been my mom for the last ten years. Nothing he has done or said will change that.” As soon as the words leave my mouth, guilt slams into me. I look toward my mom, but I don’t see a hint of hurt or anger. She genuinely smiles at me.

I focus my attention back on Alexia. “I’m just glad I got to say what I needed to. I love you mom,” I say before releasing her. I hug Thomas and then my dad. When I move to stand in front of my mom, she cups my cheeks. “I love you Claribelle. I’m so grateful that Alexia and Thomas were there for you when your father and I couldn’t be. I’m glad they are here for you now,” she says.

I wrap my arms tightly around her, and she runs her hand down my hair. “I love you, mom. I’m sorry for being so selfish. I should have thought about all the pain I caused you by leaving instead of being so angry.” “Hey, we all made mistakes. We are going to focus on the amazing future we have together. I will say that seeing Nick protect you, even if you probably would have beat her sl*tty a**, made me like him even more,” she says. My body goes stiff as I remember what Nick did in front of

everyone.

“Are you alright Claribelle,” my mother asks. “I’m fine, just tired all of a sudden.” I step out of her arms and my eyes find Nick standing with Chrissy and Jack. Panic flashes in his eyes when he notices me staring at him. He stalks toward me and wraps his arm around my middle. “What’s wrong? Are you alright,” he asks, and my mother and Alexia giggle. “I’m fine Nick. Just a bit tired. Can you take me to the apartment to lay down?” I hate the disappointment I see on my parents‘ faces. Nick must notice it too. “Of course. Evie and Andrew, why don’t you come back around five, and we can all have dinner together,” Nick says.

My mother’s eyes immediately light up and my father smiles. “We would love that,” my dad says. He steps forward and pulls me into his arms. “I’m proud of you, Clarice. You are so strong. I’m glad your home and that you are surrounded by so many people that love you,” he says before he presses a kiss on my forehead. My mom hugs me again before she takes my dad’s hand to leave.

After promising to talk to Chrissy when I wake up, Nick leads me out of the Inn. As soon as we step into the cold, I round on him.

“What the hell were you thinking?” He looks confused by my question. “You are going to have to be more specific, love,” he says. “You teleported in front of everyone. What were you thinking? No one can know who you really are.”

A smile spreads across his face and I swear I want to kick him in the shin for not taking this seriously. “Let’s get you inside, and I’ll explain why everything is fine,” he says. I look at him

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wondering if he is just trying to set my mind at ease. Before I can ask him, he lifts me into his arms and starts to move toward the apartment. I lay my head on his chest and pray that he is telling the

truth. I won’t let anything happen to Nick because of me.

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