y's

to hold back. I had spent my entire life thinking I had control over my destiny, but now? Now I felt like I was just a pawn in some cruel game bet

rtable. The silence between us was heavy, but it wasn't the kind of silence that made you think there was still something left to say. No, thi

ds out of his mouth. "I have a fiancée. Vanessa. I love her. I'd do anything for her. This... this marr

ip cracking in the silence. "Oh, how noble, Cole. How very self-righteous of you," I spat, my voice dripping with di

man I'd ever want to be stuck with. You're arrogant. Prideful. A jerk. You disgust me." My voice was a low hiss, each word a sharp jab aimed

.was it surprise? No, it was more than that. There was something else. Something

because I rejected you seven years ago. You haven't gotten over it, have you? St

neath me. He remembered. He remembered me. Seven years. Seven long years since that day, since everything fell apa

mories of that night, of everything I had wanted, and everything

th rage and something darker. "You think I'm still angry over you rejecting me? No, Cole, I hate you because

em see. Let them feel the weight of the hatred I carried for this man. I wanted him to feel it

barely a whisper. "Maybe this whole thing is your idea, Emily. Maybe you couldn't get me seven years ago, so you've manipula

ning as if I'd been struck with a cruel, ugly truth. Manipulated? My father? I couldn't eve

e me. The accusation was a lie, but it didn't matter. It cut deeper than any truth could

have the satisfaction of

I poured it directly onto him, splashing the deep red liquid across his ches

st the floor. "I don't have to take this from you," I spat, my voice full of venom. "I don't have to si

this whole ridiculous game. He could have his fiancée, his pride, his entire damn life