Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“Please,” I croaked, pleaded. I didn’t recognize my own voice or its tone. I sounded so goddamn weak. Weak for Lila Garcia. “Let me drive you home. I know I’m the last person you want to see or hear right now. I understand, but it’s complete madness to walk all the way back home, right now, at this hour,” I tried to reason with her. “I won’t touch you. I won’t even say a word. Fucking hell, you don’t even need to look at me or say anything to me. Just, let me drive you home.”
“It’s madness that you thought you could get away with this. It’s madness that you swept my life right out from under my feet and watched it crumble like you had the right to destroy me,” she whispered.
I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the burn in the back of eyelids. My head pounded, a distant ache, as Lila resumed her walking. Her tulle, feathered dress was heavy, and she was practically dragging her feet behind her. She stumbled a few times. I reached for her, but she righted herself, before I could help. She continued walking. Stumbled again, then straightened her back and resumed the same insane pace.
It was maddening, watching her crumble before my very own eyes. Knowing full well who she fell victim to. Not Christian Carmichael and his family. But me.
Without even realizing it…
I became her enemy.
And she was my unwilling casualty.
My fingers curled in my hair, and I tugged, until my scalp burned. The pain kept me grounded. I had to stay grounded, for Lila.
It took us almost two hours to get home. By the time we reached our apartment, Lila could barely walk. She held onto the walls for support, as she waited for the elevator, in complete silence.
I peeked down at her face, behind the curtains of black hair. I didn’t know what I expected. Maybe tears? Anger? Pain? Brows pinched, lips thinned, a hard expression?
But I hadn’t expected this.
Her face was completely blank, devoid of any emotion. Lila was the image of an empty canvas. She showed no outward reaction or emotion to my presence or her reality.
I watched her get into the elevator, almost like she was on autopilot. Moving around without really knowing what she was doing.
So, this was what it felt like to die?
To crash and burn.
To wither away.
Because I felt it. Right in my bones, down to the marrow of me. I… died as the elevator closed and she was… gone.
I took the stairs two at a time and cursed my claustrophobia, my inability to stay in closed places. I couldn’t even take the goddamn elevator with Lila.
When I reached our apartment, I found it…empty.
My heart dropped to my feet, and I went cold. My stomach seized up, and bile rose in my throat. Frantically, I knocked on the next door. She had to be in there. She has to be.
Riley opened the door, her face pale, her brows creased with worry. “Oh, Maddox. You’re here! Something is wrong with Lila.”
I pushed past her, not even waiting for her to finish her sentence. Lila had to give me a chance to explain, even though I didn’t deserve it. Didn’t deserve her forgiveness, but I’d beg for it for the rest of my miserable life.
If only she’d give me a chance to explain. If only…
Lila was standing in the middle of the living room, looking so sad… so lost…
She picked at the feathers in her olive tulle dress.
I had never gotten a chance to tell her just how beautiful she looked tonight. Exquisite. Gorgeous. Beautiful. Stunning. Lovely. Angelic. Breathtaking. Ravishing. Elegant. Bewitching. Alluring. Heavenly. So. Fucking. Exquisite.
I wanted to tell her all of it, wrap my arms around her small frame and kiss her red lips. I never got a chance to kiss her before our world collapsed and shattered into fragmented pieces.
“How long have you known?” Her voice cut through the air and sucked all the oxygen out of my lungs. I knew the question was coming, but still hadn’t been ready for it.
“Lila.”
She raised her hand, cutting me off. “I asked a question, Maddox. I want an answer, not your excuses. How. Long. Have. You. Known?”
I couldn’t meet her eyes any longer, couldn’t look at her anymore. My head lowered, my eyes shuttered close, and I struggled to breathe, as my lungs squeezed.
Lila let out a warlike cry, and my head snapped up, just in time to catch her, as she flew at me. She gripped my collar and hissed in my face. “Answer me, goddamn it!” she screamed. “Stop standing there like a fool, like an emotionless statue. When did you find out about Christian? How long have you been lying to me? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN LYING TO MY FACE?”
Her carefully layered walls came down, and I watched as she snapped, right in front of me. Her eyes blazed with fire and hurt.