Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Maybe he was crazy. Maybe he had multiple personalities. Maybe the man I knew had never been real. “What?”
He suddenly went quiet, his eyes on another part of the room. Then he gave a shake of his head. “You’re the first person who’s ever said that to me.” His eyes found mine again, dim and defeated. “I can’t believe it.” Now he looked emotional, like my words really meant something to him. “I’m honestly in shock right now. We’ve been sleeping together for what? A month? And you see me better than my own parents?”
“Could you tell me what happened?”
He was quiet for a long time, like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to share this story. “I told you I was in a relationship a few years ago. It was more than a relationship. I was married.”
Unfounded jealousy shot through me.
“Before we got married, I had her sign an ironclad prenup, not just to protect my assets, but the assets my family and I share through our inheritance. She was a bartender when I met her, which was fine, but when I decided to leave her, she couldn’t handle returning to that kind of lifestyle. She knew our relationship was going to shit before I asked for the divorce, so she started planting things ahead of time, audio recordings of us fighting, doctor’s visits for nonexistent issues, all kinds of stuff. So when I told her I was leaving her, she threatened to make my life a living hell…and she made good on that threat.”
“I—I don’t understand how you even got into this situation.”
“It’s…complicated.” He said it with a sigh. “But I think she wanted my money more than she wanted me.”
“How can that be possible? Look at you.”
He didn’t crack a smile. Remained forlorn like I hadn’t said anything at all.
“Why did the relationship deteriorate?”
“She spent my money like crazy. Cars. Clothes. Shit like that. Which isn’t a big deal, but then she started to buy shit for her friends…like cars and boats, and it started to become clear she only wanted a sugar daddy instead of a husband. I’m happy to be a sugar daddy for a sexy lady, but I’d like to be aware that’s what I am to her rather than being misled.”
“I’m sorry.” The Axel I knew had a good heart and didn’t deserve someone taking advantage of his kind nature. “You didn’t deserve that.”
“I think I did,” he said. “I should have seen through the charade well before I did.”
“You shouldn’t have to live your life seeing the bad in people instead of the good. That’s no way to live.”
“I’m pretty critical of people on the streets, but on a personal level, I’d rather not be that way.” He gave a smirk, a painful one. “Lesson fucking learned.”
“So, when you left, she made good on her threat?”
“Yep. And I had no idea the amount of effort she’d put into it. I’d assumed no one would believe her, at least not the people who actually knew me. She sued me for damages, so I ended up paying her a fortune. I think that was her endgame. If she didn’t get any claim to my assets, she was getting something. And she did. She got my money and her revenge.” His eyes were out the window, arms still crossed over his chest. Silence passed, and he seemed to be lost in the memories of the past. “I was found guilty on all counts and given a ten-year sentence. But behind closed doors, we agreed it would only be two years because of ‘good behavior.’”
I was overwhelmed by the story and didn’t know what to say.
“So you and I have a big problem.” His eyes shifted back to mine.
“What?”
“Your father knows about us.”
“Why do you say that?”
“He just randomly brought this up at the opera?” he asked incredulously. “Does he tell you personal shit about his other guys? No. He fucking knows, and he’s hoping this will end our relationship so he doesn’t have to get his hands dirty.”
“I think he would speak to me directly—”
“He threatened me to stay away from you.”
I suddenly felt a draft in the room. “When?”
“The night your boyfriend broke it off.” He said it casually, like it wasn’t a big deal. “Took me into a private room and went full psycho on me. Told me he’d kill me if I came anywhere near you. Ironic, considering the fact that my only intention was to comfort you that night.”
“Why would my father do that?”
He breathed a sigh. “Because he believes I really did all those things. And if he actually believes that, then it makes sense why he hates me so much. I’m making him a lot of money, so he can’t get rid of me, not without hurting his business. Therefore, this is the only card he has right now.”