3
I had just left the cemetery after visiting my
く
A news alert popped up on my phone.
“Sinclair Heir Gets Into Brawl on Set to
Defend Janie’s Honor.”
Before I could read it, a text came from
Cooper’s mother.
“Get to the hospital. Now.”
I stared at the phone, then stuffed it in my
purse and got back in the car.
Taylor sent me a message.
“Your husband’s at my hospital.”
“Eighteen stitches in his head. Who was he
trying to protect this time?”
<
I stared at the words, lost in thought.
Cooper rarely acted impulsively. The last time
he had gotten into a fight was before we
were married.
I remembered when Taylor took me to a bar
when I was 18.
I was harassed by some drunk guy.
Taylor had stepped outside to take a call. It
almost escalated.
Then Cooper smashed a bottle over the guy’s
head.
His face was a mask of fury. “She’s under my
protection. You touch her, you answer to me.”
:
The drunk guy didn’t recognize the Sinclair
heir. He actually fought back.
Cooper nearly tore the bar apart that night.
Grandpa Sinclair gave him a beating when we
got home.
I treated his wounds, horrified by the welts on
his back. I couldn’t stop crying.
Cooper had laughed. “Don’t cry. Just marry
me.”
I got angry and jabbed his back with the
cotton swab.
“Ow! Ow! I’m sorry, princess! I was just
joking!”
Г
He winced in pain.
I didn’t say anything. Neither did he.
Finally, he whispered, “Penelope, I’ll always
protect you.”
That was a long time ago.
Now, at 28, Cooper was protecting a different
woman every week.
It certainly wouldn’t be Penelope.
