Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 101622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 508(@200wpm)___ 406(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
“Maturity wasn’t something I was concerned with. I had my reasons.” I didn’t know those reasons would hurt him when I was only trying to protect my family. But I should have. I tempted fate by messing with his emotions. I can’t feign innocence over that aspect. But where did it all go so wrong? My life has been spiraling out of control ever since I got into that ambulance.
“You owe me the truth, Delaney.” He stabs his chest with a plea that causes my stomach to twist in knots.
“Do you know how many times I’ve tried to tell you? But the truth wasn’t what you wanted. You wanted a wife, and I was here giving you just that.” My words come out softer than I intended, my spirit not able to rouse to the fight. I don’t want to hurt him, even now when I’m under the spotlight to be interrogated.
“And in return, what was in it for you?”
I take a breath and look down at the mess of clothes I’ve shoved in the suitcase. The answer isn’t going to be found inside because there isn’t just one thing. There’s more than this suitcase can hold. I finally look up at him again. “You deserve answers. I just don’t think they’re going to be what you want to hear.”
We’ve crossed canyons to be together, so as we stare at each other, the divide feels greater than it ever has. I’m not a weak person, but the will to attack him or even defend myself feels fruitless when it comes to Warner. He’ll throw out facts that will counteract my truth, no matter how valid it is.
He turns his back to me and scrubs his hand over his face, walking away. I watch as the jacket slides off his shoulders, and he tosses it on the bed. He doesn’t move or say anything. He doesn’t even look at me as if the sight is as problematic as the secrets we keep. “We’ll never know with you evading the answers.” He turns to shoot his gaze at me. “But I deserve to hear the truth after the nonsense you’ve put me through. This speaks volumes about what you really think about me as a person.”
“How I think of you as a person is why I’m not bothering. Not because I think you’re bad or evil. I know you’re not. I also know that nothing I say will make a difference to you.” I grab a shirt and squash it into the suitcase before reaching for another and repeating the process.
“How about this?” He sounds so reasonable that I’m worried about being hit with what he says next. “I’ll do the talking, and you can chime in if I get something wrong in this story of yours.” One glance out the window, and he takes a breath before facing me again. “Jimmy was right. Fuck.” Shaking his head, he’s not amused, though his tone leans toward it for a split second. “That’s not something I can say very often.”
He looks down as if disappointment has taken over. When his eyes strike mine, the pain he’s carrying is drawn through the lines of his face. “You could have been the one to tell me that you were at my office and we knew each other before the accident, but you didn’t. You made up this fable in your head that we were married. Do you know how horrible and confused that made me feel when I was dealing with my injuries?”
“I’m sorry.”
“That’s not fucking good enough anymore, Delaney!” he shouts. “Your sorry doesn’t fix the damage you’ve done. It doesn’t turn the lies you’ve told into the truth. You’re nothing more than a liar and an opportunist. Get your shit and get out of my penthouse.”
He rips the bow tie from around his neck and throws it on the floor before he storms out of the bedroom. “That’s bullshit, Warner, and you know it.” I get to my feet and follow his footsteps into the living room. He can call me a liar. That’s the truth. I’ve lied so much that I’ve let it overtake my entire personality for him. “Don’t call me an opportunist when you know it’s not true.”
“Oh yeah? How do I know that? You asked me for five fucking million dollars like I would hand it over and not even miss it.”
“You wouldn’t miss it!” I shout right back, matching him in volume and upset. I slap my hands onto the island countertop, leaning over like my words won’t reach him on the other side if I don’t. “That’s just it. Money is meaningless to you because you have so much of it. That’s why you’re wretched at work and miserable at home. You have more than you could ever need, and sadly, it’s all you have to keep you warm at night.”