Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 90778 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90778 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Earl—” he spits the name like a curse—“that jackass might think you’re some kind of whore, but I know the truth. You wanted to take care of your dad. You’d do anything for the people you love, even if it means marrying a good-for-nothing loser like him.”
I feel the blood drain from my face. My hands tremble slightly, but I press them firmly against my thighs to steady myself. “Charles, you’re out of line—”
“Am I?” he cuts in, his voice rising just enough to echo off the conservatory walls. He takes another step, leaning closer as his eyes flash with something I can only describe as desperation. “I’ve been trying to tell you, Raven. You didn’t see it at the time, but I get it now. I understand now why you left me, and you know what? I love you even more for it.”
A bead of cold sweat prickles at the back of my neck. His words feel like quicksand pulling me under.
Charles exhales sharply, raking a hand through his hair. “Anyway,” he says, his tone shifting to something almost jubilant, “I’ve got good news. Really good news.”
I blink at him, too stunned to respond.
He grins suddenly, the expression wide and unsettling. “I’ve come into money. A lot of it. My father, God bless the man’s heart, planned ahead. He knew there might be financial difficulties down the line, so he allocated some extra funds—hedge funds managed by a brilliant investor. Turns out, those funds have yielded millions over the years. Millions, Raven.”
My pulse thrums in my ears as he continues, his words tumbling out faster now, his excitement building.
“Do you know what that means? It means you don’t need to stay with Earl anymore. You can divorce him and come back to me, Raven. I can take care of your father. I can take care of you. We can pick up right where we left off.”
His words hang in the air like a storm cloud, heavy and oppressive. My mind races, trying to process his words—the audacity of his assumptions, the blatant disregard for what I might want, the sheer arrogance of thinking I’d go back to him just because he has come into money.
My stomach churns, and I force myself to stand, the motion unsteady but resolute. “Charles,” I say, my voice low but firm, “I’ve never lied to you before and I’m not going to start now. I love Earl and I always have. I was willing to try and make a life with you, but fate intervened, and now I can’t imagine a life without anyone but Earl. You need to leave before Earl comes back.”
Charles’s face contorts at my words, his expression a blend of disbelief and fury, as though he can’t comprehend what I’ve just said. His lips twitch, his nostrils flare, and he takes a step forward, his voice tight with restrained anger.
“Why?” he demands, the word sharp and jagged, cutting through the air. “Why are you telling me to leave, Raven? This is what you wanted, isn’t it? Money to take care of your father? Now you have it! So why won’t you even give me the time of day?”
My throat dries, and I press my hands into the chair’s armrests to steady myself. He’s lost his mind. He doesn’t want the truth. I need to placate him long enough to call for help. “Charles …” I begin, my voice trembling slightly. “I understand what you’re saying and maybe you’re right, but all of this is so sudden. I just need time to … to figure it out, to come to my senses.”
He laughs—a hollow, chilling sound that sends shivers racing down my spine. “Come to your senses?” he repeats, his tone mocking. “Sure. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, Raven, it’s that space gives clarity. So it’s great you want to think things through. I’ll make sure you have plenty of time to do that—privately.”
Alarm bells ring in my head at the nasty edge in his voice. My eyes dart to the doorway, but he steps closer, his presence towering over me now. “What do you mean?” I ask, trying to keep my voice calm.
“It means,” he says, his eyes narrowing into something dark and unreadable, “I’ll help you. I’ll take you somewhere safe. Somewhere you can think. And then, once you’ve had time, you’ll see the truth in what I’m saying.”
My heart races, panic making my heart flutter like a bird as his gaze burns into me. There’s something unhinged in his eyes, a glint of ugly fury barely contained. He never showed this side of him to me, ever. Other people warned me, but I didn’t heed their warning because I never saw it. Every instinct in me screams at me to get out of this room, to get away from him, but I think of the child growing inside me. I can’t risk anything happening to it.