Chasing Amelia: The Hastings Brothers, #5

By Mallory Funk

Amelia

I spent years with a man who I thought loved me. That love turned cruel and uncaring.
When I left to rebuild my life with my daughter, I went back home to live with my father.
What my father had forgotten to mention was that his house is part of a warzone in an ongoing prank war. He also failed to mention the handsome man who lives down the street.
I can't take my eyes off him.
It would be too soon to trust a man again; the divorce isn't even final yet, but there's no harm in a little fun, right?

Liam

When I first laid eyes on her, I thought she was the sexiest woman I had ever seen.
We came to an agreement of "no strings." How did this backfire on me?
Commitment is not for me.
There is no woman who can get me to settle down but, if that's true, why am I left with these feelings of jealousy when other men are near her?
She's so much more than meets the eye.
I didn't realize how deep I had gotten until it was too late. The question is, how am I supposed to keep her once her father finds out about us?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mallory Funk
• Release date: May 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9798223805182

Book preview

Dedication

I’d like to dedicate this book to my family. My husband, kids, sisters, brother in-law, mother. Without their constant support and encouragement I wouldn’t be where I am today.

I love writing and giving my readers these books and it means so much to me that I have that support.

The Hastings Brothers was my first series.

I hope you enjoy this much as much as I did writing it.

Thank you.

Prologue

Amelia

You’re worthless.

I can’t believe I married you.

You’ve let yourself go. How am I supposed to look at you?

The insults kept coming. It didn’t matter; I was used to them. Over the years, my husband had changed so much that I could no longer see in him the man that I married. 

He was cruel and uncaring, unlike the man that I had fallen in love with. 

It started when I had our daughter. I gained weight in the pregnancy and had trouble losing the weight afterward. I was obviously not someone whose body bounced back. I would have been okay with it if it wasn’t for my husband picking at my appearance every day. I had a mom bod and wasn’t ashamed of it, no matter how badly my husband tried to make me feel about it. 

My body was a product of carrying and bringing my beautiful daughter into this world. What could be more wonderful than that? 

I glanced at myself in the reflection of the back door window. It lead out into our patio where I loved to sit most mornings, with a nice cup of coffee in my hand, watching my daughter getting fresh air and running around the lawn. I wouldn’t say that I looked bad or ugly. I never really had a low self-esteem until my husband started talking to me in a demeaning manor. I wasn’t a size zero or even a size eight. I was comfortably a size sixteen. I had a belly pouch, cellulite, and I didn’t feel one bit ashamed of it. This is the body of a woman who created, carried, and gave birth to a baby. 

There’s nothing more special than that. My hair was light brown and I had always wanted to do something crazy with it, but I knew that Troy wouldn’t go for that.

Most days, my husband spent his time at work. Over the years, I had gotten quite used to his long hours away.

He was never physically abusive towards me, so I always ended up making excuses for him. I spent my time with my daughter. Although she was his kid and looked a lot like him, he didn’t care to interact with her more than he had to. It was like we were just the background scenery in a place where he slept at the end of his day.  

I open the door and sit outside like I do every morning; looking over at my daughter and, once in a while, scrolling through social media. I didn’t have many friends around after I had Isabelle. They slowly stopped calling or texting. I got that I couldn’t just come over or go out at the drop of the hat, but I missed talking to adults. I called my dad once in a while, but he seemed busy until a few months ago when he finally quit his job after a long time.

I knew why he kept it. There was a woman there who he thought about as a daughter. She must have gotten her happily ever after for him to leave that place. I know when my dad is protective of someone, and he was of her. I couldn’t wait to meet her; my father doesn’t take a liking to just anyone.

I shake the thoughts about my father. I miss him and hate keeping my life from him. I know how much he would hate knowing how my life is now, and wouldn’t hesitate to teach Troy a lesson, but I feel like I need to stand my ground on my own. I need to grow up; I couldn’t always be a daddy’s girl and rely on him. 

My brother is another story, but I haven’t called him in months. He said he was doing some self-discovery so I can’t help, but I hope that he comes to me when he’s ready. I have a feeling what that self-discovery is, but I needed him to come to me. I hope he knew that I wouldn’t judge him for any choices that he would make. 

I hear the front door open and look at it startled. Why would Troy be home? He’s supposed to be at work all day. He hasn’t been home during the day for a long time. I actually don’t remember the last time he was home this early.

He walks straight to the back door like he knew this was where we would be. 

I look at him in shock and can’t help my mouth from hanging open. 

Honey, what are you doing home? I ask hesitantly. I’m sure that the confusion shows on my face. 

He sits down and takes a moment before speaking. I found a good school for Isabelle. It’s a boarding school, so you and I will have more time together and you will have more time to work on yourself. She comes home on weekends and holidays, but we can get a babysitter if we ever want a weekend away together. I think this would be good for us and our marriage. I think that it’s about time we work on us, and you work on you; you know, become the woman I fell in love with before we had Isabelle.

He says this in the calmest and most serious tone I have ever heard from him. I’m looking at my husband in disbelief. I cannot believe those words just came out of his mouth. 

Isabelle is not going to a boarding school. She’s just a child. I don’t need to work on myself. I’m fine just the way I am, I tell him. I can feel my anger inside rising.

He looks at me startled for a second before his eyes narrow into a look of determination. Well, I’ve got news for you buddy, I can be determined too. My baby isn’t going anywhere. 

’Fine’ being the key word there, Amelia. You look nothing like you did when we first met, he says trying to remain calm.

I snort. I had a baby, you asshole. Your baby. What did you think would happen? I don’t need to change. Maybe you need to open your eyes and realize that you have a wife and daughter here instead of focusing on physical appearances. 

Mommy, dad! Look what I can do, Isabelle says from the grass.

I glance over at her jumping up and down like she’s trying her hardest to jump high.

I am trying to focus on my wife and daughter; what do you think I’m doing this for? Without a kid in the way, you can go to the gym and spa and be beautiful again.

I feel a pang of hurt in my chest, but I ignore it. I’m used to these jabs from him.

Dad! Watch me! Isabelle says impatiently. 

Isabelle, I’m not going to waste my time watching you do something as stupid as jumping. Come to me when you can show me something worth watching, he says in irritation. 

My jaw drops before I stand up. I don’t think that I have ever felt this angry before.

TROY! Who the fuck do you think you are talking to? You can’t speak to our daughter like that! She’s a kid. I don’t bother to hide my anger. 

I don’t need to waste my time on this shit, he says before storming away. I don’t hear him again until I hear the front door slam.

I look at my girl who is now sitting in the grass with her legs crossed and her head in her hands. I can hear her quiet sobs from the deck.

I can’t do this. Not with my girl. I can dish out what he says to me, but I won’t let him say anything to my little girl. Watching her is breaking my heart. 

I pick her up and give her a hug until she calms down while my mind focuses on what I need to do next. I need to protect her. Her father has never cared about her and he just proved that.

Later that night, I drop her off with a sitter that I have only used when I wanted to get my hair or nails done. I have had the car packed for a few hours when I finally make it to the office. I made sure that we didn’t leave any of our personal stuff behind. I had taken out money in case he wanted to do something stupid like clear out my account.  I also have an emergency card that I never used that his name isn’t on, so I know that we will be fine. 

He told me that he was going to be at the office late which wasn’t a surprise to me anymore. 

There isn’t anyone around, and I walk to the door with his name on it. It’s slightly open, but it didn’t have to be from the noises coming from there. I grab my phone out of my purse and get ready to take a picture in case it becomes a case of he said /she said.

I’m not even surprise at the scene before me. 

Troy has his secretary bent over his desk and they are facing the door so I have a clear shot of both of their faces. It takes a second for Troy to register that I’m there. 

I snap the picture before he gets a chance to see me.

AMELIA, what the fuck are you doing here? he asks.

I look at my husband in disbelief. I point to myself. What am I doing here? What are you doing banging your secretary? Just another late night at the office, hey HUN, I say with a sarcastic tone.  

Well I certainly haven’t gotten any at home, now have I? he sneers at me. 

I shake my head with a bitter laugh. I don’t show him my heart breaking, I can’t. I need to be strong. This is just the icing on the cake.  

You know what, it doesn’t matter. I can’t do this anymore. This just confirms it. I want a divorce. I say the last part with my voice breaking, and I hate myself for it.

Divorce! You can’t divorce me, he says like I’ll just say hey okay, no divorce at his words. I inwardly roll my eyes. 

I cross my arms over my chest. I can and I am. We’re not happy, Troy. Nothing you say is going to change this, and I am taking Isabelle. 

He waves his hand dismissively. Fine, the brat doesn’t need to go to boarding school. Is that what this was about? 

I shake my head. No. It’s the fact that you are never home, we aren’t a family, and I’m not sure we ever were. Not to mention that your dick is still wet from your secretary. Don’t think I didn’t notice that you weren’t wearing a condom. Let’s face it. This marriage is over, Troy. I say the last part softer, but I can see the anger building in his eyes. 

Fine. You let yourself go anyways. Why would I want a fat wife? As for Isabelle, I never wanted her. Leave, he says in a cold voice. If I wasn’t staring at him, I wouldn’t have thought that this man was my husband. I grip my phone harder in my hand. I hit video after I took a picture. I don’t think that Troy cares that I’m holding my phone in the air.

I shake my head and look at him with a sad smile. 

I walk out of the building and pick up my daughter. We will stay in a hotel until I talk to my lawyer. 

Good thing that I have the money for a decent place, I think as I pull up to a hotel. I get a room with an unknown checkout date and get Isabelle ready before bed.

I let myself cry to sleep, letting all the tears free from a marriage that is no more. I need to be strong for my baby girl, and I am not going to let a man bring me or her down ever again. 

Chapter One 

Liam  

The sun shines into my room first thing in the morning. I’m not one of those people who needs an alarm clock. I wake up naturally. It may not seem like I am a morning person because I’m usually quiet, but I am and have always been.

I stretch my arms and legs before getting out of bed.  

I’d like to say that I’m a simple man, but I have my routine. I like things in order. Let’s just say that I don’t like surprises. 

I head into the washroom that’s joined to my room. I got this room after I kept driving my brothers crazy with my need to keep the bathroom in order. They had finally had enough of me hounding them for leaving dirty clothes, towels, or their shavings in the