Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156392 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 782(@200wpm)___ 626(@250wpm)___ 521(@300wpm)
Oh God.
Is it him?
I fooled around with V in school, mostly out of spite, and he’s a true charmer, nice, understanding, and really gentle.
He’s the exact opposite of my husband, and although I’ve never thought of myself as the type who cheats, I can see why Vance would fit the profile of a man I’d choose for an affair.
“Hey, V.” I step closer so no one overhears. “As you know, I forgot some events the past couple of years.”
“Yes, you mentioned that the other time.”
“Did something happen that I should be aware of?”
“I’m surprised it took you so long to ask.” His blue eyes brighten up. “I knew you wouldn’t forget everything.”
I think I’m going to be sick.
His head slides close to mine, but before he can say anything, he’s shoved away and then punched so hard, he hits the buffet table and plunges into the extravagant food. Blood explodes from his nose in a shock of red instantly covers his face.
Did…Eli just break V’s nose?
A collective gasp from the attendees echoes in the air as my husband stares at his handiwork with savage eyes. “I warned you, but you didn’t listen.”
Gemma grabs onto Eli’s arm. “It’s okay…”
He pushes her away before I can think about her presence beside him, grabs my arm, and drags me behind him.
“Eli, wait…” I literally jog in freaking heels to keep up with his wide strides.
“I’m done waiting.” He shoves me into a supply room, jams the door closed, and presses my back against the wall.
“Don’t you think you went overboard—”
My words are cut off when his angry words roll off me. “Is he the fucker you cheated on me with?”
21
AVA
My lips part as I stare up into Eli’s eyes.
Cold.
Harsh.
Filled with rage.
I’ve never seen him like this before. He’s calm and collected to a fault. It’s alien to see him lose his cool, let alone drift into the lawless territory of anger.
His grip tightens on my arms, fingers digging into my flesh. It hurts, but I show no reaction and release no sound. I’m enchanted and completely taken in by his ruthless aura and…
Gray.
His eyes are so gray and enraged, it’s a miracle they don’t flash into darkness and suck me into its depths.
“Answer the question.” His calm words are deceptive, too clipped, too savage.
“W-what…” I swallow past the dryness making my tongue stick to the back of my throat. “What do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean. Did you go to Vance Elliot’s arms while wearing my fucking ring, Ava?”
“I don’t remember marrying you, let alone anything that happened after, so how could I know?” I sound too defensive to my own ears and I hate it. I hate how guilt chips at my emotions and how utterly horrible I feel when faced with his anger.
“You told Bonneville you had a flashback in which you saw yourself kissing another man and asked her who it might be.”
My limbs shake as my lips part in complete bewilderment. Gemma is supposed to be the nice friend who’s never confrontational or a trouble-stirrer, but I should’ve known better. Her true colors have been showing ever since she set her greedy eyes on Eli.
In the beginning, I thought it was a harmless crush, even if it annoyed me. I told myself she thinks he’s hot like a million other girls do and stopped my mind from conjuring a plot to get rid of her like I did with his previous conquests at uni.
I’m paying for my kindness. I should’ve known a spoiled princess like her gets everything she wants. Her target is now my husband, and if it means she has to slander me and break my trust to get him, that’s exactly what she’ll do.
And just like that, my worst nightmare about Eli finding out has come true.
I clear my throat. “It…was nothing.”
“Don’t you dare lie to me.”
“It was a flashback, but you said the other flashback I had, about being tied up and being forced to consume pills, proved to be wrong.”
A muscle clenches in his jaw.
A violent blare goes off in my head.
“You lied,” I say instead of asking it as a question, because I’m sure he did.
He made me believe my memories were false.
“Why?” My voice carries in the silence like a ticking bomb. “Why did you lie to me?”
“Because you weren’t ready to find out that tying you up for hours on end and forcing you to undergo rehab was the only method to stop your alcoholism.”
I flinch, my head thudding against the door as if he slapped me. No. It wouldn’t have hurt this bad if he’d actually slapped me.
And it’s not only due to my forced rehab or that he, of all people, was the one who performed it.
No.
It’s the confirmation that I did, in fact, cheat on him.
All this time, part of me has felt guilty, but the other part has held on to the hope that it was a false memory like the one where I was tied up in bed.