Marrying My Cheating Ex's Billionaire Rival

ne was a harsh, white

tears. No gasping intake of breath. Just a profound,

t message contain

The custom cufflinks she'd given him for their anniversary, tiny s

rish, blood-red, a cheap-looking ring on her index finger. The intimacy

hree-carat diamond on her ring finger, a symbol of a pr

e, miss. Th

iscreet, black awning of the exclusive Upper East Side club. A place Pre

calm. The late-night breeze caught the silk of her dress as she

poke suit, moved to block her wa

e steady. The name was a key, one she had us

ded and pulled the heavy door open for he

throbbing with the bass of some forgettable electronic son

n at the bar. The photo was her map. She recognized the unique, swirli

k, her heels clicking so

n she s

in a dress that was too tight and too short. He was laughing, his hea

starlet, desperate to climb the social ladder. Averie had seen her at

painful knot. But her face remaine

right up to

hand now resting on her bare thigh. He hadn't noticed her. H

dened for a fraction of a second, then narrowed

ore dismissing her entirely. Her focus landed on

fun, P

et, precise, and it sliced throug

froze, then crumbled. He turned his head slowly, his e

g of color. "What are you doing here? Ba

ed movement. But it was far too late. The whol

to the table, to the glass of amber liquid sittin

she picked up the glass. The condensa

s mouth opening and closing like a f

idn't

red the entire contents over

is chin onto his thousand-dollar suit jacket.

hs. The low chatter of the club died, replaced by a

but they didn't matter. Only

f her finger. It caught on her knuckle, and for a heart-stoppi

orefinger, the diamond catching the di

e let i

sharp, definitive clink. The sound was

ear and carrying. Each word was a perfe

whose face was now a mask of pale shock. A sm

, trying to grab her w

m back as if his

r voice dropping to a low, ven

her back on him. On them. On th

of her heels on the floor was a death knell for their relationship. Three minu

whiskey and shame, the eyes of New

ut into the cold night air. She took a deep, shuddering

, the picture of them smiling in the Hamptons mocking

lent as a panther, pulled up

rear window

eekbones, a strong jaw, and eyes that were a deep, unreadable blue

hers, intense

," he said. It