Total pages in book: 296
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
“I wanted to tell you. I planned to…” I say, but he shakes his head, not having any part of this conversation or me.
“You betrayed me, Zoey. You betrayed me and my family in ways I can’t even begin to describe.” His sad eyes meet mine, and I know nothing I can say or do will fix any of this right now. Riley gives me one last glance, his nostrils flare, then walks away.
“You have twenty minutes, and we’re fucking leaving. I’m not playing these games with you,” Benjamin barks, and I run out of the barn toward Riley, who’s already made his way to the side of the B&B. I yell his name again, wanting him to stop so I can explain everything, but he ignores me. Before he climbs in his truck, I grab his hand and force him to look at me.
“Please,” I beg. “Let me explain everything to you.” Before he can respond, Benjamin calls my name.
“Go back to your fiancé,” he snaps, jerking his hand from mine. Riley gets into his truck, not giving me another look, and backs out of the driveway, spitting up rocks as he leaves. I watch until I can no longer see his truck. Sobs escape me at the reality of the shitstorm I’ve created.
What have I done?
Benjamin comes up behind me, and that’s when I notice the Mercedes parked nearby. Of course he’d rent a flashy luxury car. He sticks out like a sore thumb in his business casual, Rolex, and slicked back hair.
“I’ve called you, and you’ve done nothing but ignore me. What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Zoey? I am your fiancé. You belong to me.”
All I can do is scowl at him—the man who thought proposing at my sister’s wedding was a genius idea, the man who I said yes to because I had no other choice. With my parents and every person in their social circle there, I was put on the spot. Embarrassing them would’ve garnered lifelong consequences, and at the time, I didn’t know what to do. I knew it was what my parents wanted, and at that moment of weakness, I crumpled to their wishes. Coming to Texas and being with Riley grounded me for the first time in years. I found out who I was, the part of me that I almost lost.
“We’re leaving in the morning,” Benjamin hisses. “Your parents are expecting us at dinner tomorrow night to discuss wedding plans,” he says it as if it were some business meeting for work that’s nothing more than an inconvenience. I look at him like he’s lost his fucking mind, but it doesn’t faze him in the least. For a man who asked me to marry him, he doesn’t even ask about who I was kissing before he showed up. That’s because he doesn’t care. I’m only a piece of property to him.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, finally able to find my words.
He takes a step forward, his eye already starting to bruise. With a busted lip and rustled hair, he looks like complete shit. My parents will definitely notice and ask questions.
“I came to get my goddamn fiancée from this shithole. I seriously don’t understand why you’ve been here for so long.” Benjamin makes a disgusted expression. “Look at this place.” He places his hands on his hips and looks at the B&B as if it were a fallen down shack.
When I look around, all I see is heaven on earth, a treasure of a place where social status and the amount in the bank doesn’t mean anything, something Benjamin wouldn’t understand. He wants the best of the best and only cares about appearances, just like my parents.
Studying his hands, I can see he’s seething. “Do you have any idea what would’ve happened if these were damaged? I’d sue the living fuck out of this ranch. I’d take them for every penny they’re worth and finish this place. We’d rename it Benjamin’s B&B.” He laughs at his joke and thinks he’s so damn clever.
I try to steady my breathing, but my entire body shakes from the inside out, knowing that I might’ve lost the man I love forever.
Benjamin stares at me. “You’ll need to fully explain yourself on the plane ride home tomorrow. I really don’t have time to be rescuing you, Zoey. This is childish and immature, and your parents aren’t happy. I may have never found you if it weren’t for Summer.”
“Summer?” I ask in disbelief.
“She told your parents you were staying at a B&B in Texas. I had my assistant looking for you for the past week. It wasn’t easy to track you down.” He takes a step forward. “You’ve embarrassed me.”
His eyes grow dark and dangerous, and I step back to create some space between us before he hurts me. I wish Riley hadn’t left me with him, but I don’t blame him for it. “I’m sorry.” I swallow down my pride and say what he wants to hear.