Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 239

CHAPTER 137-2

“You don’t have to like what I’ve built.” said.

“I don’t. And I certainly don’t understand why you’re praising her.” She said as Charlotte glanced toward Charles as Charles’s expression hardened.

“Because she deserves it.” Charles said as Charlotte stared at him.

“What?” She asked.

“I said she deserves it.” Charles said and her mouth opened slightly.

“You’re serious?” Charlotte asked.

“Yes.” Charles said and she looked between us.

“You can’t honestly believe this.” Charlotte said.

“I do.” He said as Charlotte shook her head.

“After everything she’s done?” Charlotte said.

“What exactly have I done?” I asked.

“You know what you’ve done.” She said.

“No, I don’t.” I said.

“You turned everyone against us.” She said as I stared at her.

“You did that yourself.” I said and Charlotte’s face reddened so Charles stepped between us slightly.

“Enough.” Charles said and I looked at him.

He wasn’t looking at me. He was looking at Charlotte.

“Don’t speak to her like that.” Charles said and Charlotte seemed genuinely stunned.

“But Dad…” Charlotte said.

“I said enough.” Charles snapped as she stared at him.

“You’ve always defended me.” Charlotte said.

“That doesn’t mean I’ll defend you when you’re wrong.” He said.

The parking lot suddenly felt very quiet. Even though people were still talking around us, I barely heard anything.

I watched Charlotte’s expression change. She looked hurt and then angry and then furious.

“You’re taking her side.” Charlotte said as Charles shook his head.

“I’m not taking sides.” Charles said.

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“You just told her she deserves this.” Charlotte said.

She does.” Charles said as Charlotte looked at me.

“This is unbelievable.” She said.

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t want to push it. I didn’t want to turn one strange moment into another family

war.

But inside, something was shifting. This was the first time Charles hadn’t automatically sided with Charlotte.

It shouldn’t have mattered as much as it did. Yet it did.

For years, I had watched Charlotte manipulate situations while Charles defended her.

If Charlotte complained, he listened. If Charlotte accused me, he believed her. If she wanted something,

he found a way to make it happen.

Today, he had stopped her. Today, he had told her she was wrong.

I didn’t know what had caused the change, but I couldn’t deny that it felt significant and Charlotte turned toward me.

“You think you’ve won.” Charlotte said and I shook my head.

“This isn’t a competition.” I said and she laughed bitterly..

“Everything with you is a competition.” She said.

“No.” I said as I looked around at the workshop.

“This is my life.” I added as she stared at me.

“You’ve always thought you were better than me.” She said.

“I’ve never said that.” I said.

“You didn’t have to.” She said as Charles stepped forward.

“Charlotte, stop.” Charles said and she looked at him.

“Why are you doing this?” Charlotte asked.

“Because you’re being cruel.” Charles said and her eyes filled with anger.

“I’m being honest.” She said.

“There’s a difference.” Charles said.

“You’ve changed.” Charlotte said as Charles looked at her.

“Maybe I finally started seeing things clearly.” He said and Charlotte went completely still.

I could almost see the words hitting her.

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For a mument, nobody spoke and then she grabbed her purse.

“I’m done.” She said as she turned away.

“Charlotte.” Charles said so she stopped but didn’t look back and Charles sighed.

“Don’t make this worse.” Charles said as she turned her head slightly.

“You already did.” Charlotte said.

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Then she walked away. Her heels struck the pavement as she crossed the parking lot, and she climbed into her car without looking back.

The engine started and she pulled away quickly.

I watched until the car disappeared around the corner and Jace touched my arm.

“You okay?” He asked and I nodded.

“I think so.” I said as Charles remained beside us.

“I’m sorry.” Charles said as I looked at him.

“For what?” I asked.

“For the way she spoke to you.” He said and I shook my head.

“You don’t have to apologize for her.” I said.

“I know. But I should have stopped it sooner.” He said as he looked toward the road.

I didn’t know how to answer. So I simply nodded and Charles turned toward me.

“I meant what I said, Paige.” He said.

“About the business?” I asked.

“About all of it. You’ve done something remarkable here.” He said and my eyes stung unexpectedly.

“Thank you.” I said and he nodded.

“I should have told you that years ago.” He said.

The words were almost too painful to hear so I looked away and Jace gently squeezed my hand.

Charles eventually returned to his SUV, and I watched him leave.

For the first time in years, I didn’t feel like I was waiting for my father to tell me I was good enough.

I already knew I was. Still, hearing it from him mattered and I turned toward the workshop.

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