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)
“Come on, Axel. I fucking know you, and this isn’t you.” I shoved him in the chest.
He backed up but still wouldn’t look at me.
“Tell me the truth.” I tried to get in his face, to force him to look at me, but he sidestepped me and walked away. “I know what we have is real, so there’s something you aren’t telling me.”
His back was to me, and he looked out the window.
“You would never hurt me like this.”
A heavy breath escaped his lungs before he turned around to face me. “Scarlett—”
“Did my father say something to you?” I moved closer. “That’s it, isn’t it? He told you to end things with me—”
“He has nothing to do with this, Scarlett.” He spoke in a defeated voice, but his eyes looked strong. “I’ve been married before. I’ve been down that road. Things are getting serious between us, and it made me realize I’m not ready for that.”
“That’s the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard, Axel.”
“But it’s the truth.”
“You know I’m nothing like that bitch ex of yours. You know I would never hurt you—”
“Scarlett.” He raised his voice. “You have no idea how much it hurts me to hurt you. But nevertheless, this relationship is over. We can argue about it all night if you want, but my decision will not change. Instead of whining and pleading, have some pride and hold your head high…”
An unstoppable chuckle came from my lips. “I know this isn’t you. Someone else is talking right now.”
He moved around me toward the door.
“Axel.”
He ignored me and kept going.
“Please…”
Instead of walking out the door, he stilled, his back to me.
“If it’s not my father, then what is it? Because being too scared for a serious relationship is a bunch of bullshit.”
He remained on the threshold. “I’m sorry, Scarlett.”
“I don’t believe you.”
He stepped out of my apartment and closed the door behind him without turning back to face me. Then his heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway as he walked away.
I listened to him go, tears pooling in my eyes, my chest convulsing with the sobs that were about to break through my ribs. I refused to believe it, that the best man I’d ever known could drop me like a stone, end things without explanation, dump me like I was some meaningless lay.
I just couldn’t believe it.
13
AXEL
I sat on the couch in my bedroom, the entire bottle of scotch on the coffee table in front of me so I wouldn’t have to keep getting up to refill my glass. Wasn’t sure why I bothered with a glass at all. Should go straight for the bottle.
The TV showed a replay of a game I’d already seen, but I couldn’t focus on anything in front of me anyway. I had to relive my conversation with Scarlett over and over, listen to her reject my lies because she knew my truth.
Knew my heart.
That made this so much fucking harder. I sat forward with my elbows on my knees, dragging my hands down my face to massage the tension out of my eyebrows and cheeks. I’d felt like shit before when my parents disowned me and my ex-wife used me, but I’d never felt this low.
I was tempted to kill Dante. If I got rid of him, I could have her.
But if she lost him, I would lose her anyway.
There was no scenario where I got to keep her.
My butler texted me.
I grabbed the phone and glanced at his message. Scarlett is here to see you, sir.
“Fuck.” I dragged my hand down my face again.
Shall I send her up?
I had been at her apartment a few hours ago. Now it was midnight. She’d obviously combed over every single word I’d spoken to her, and now she had more to say. I could order her away, but she would show up another time. Yes.
I set my glass on the coffee table and stared at the TV. My heart didn’t race like it used to. The pain was so potent that it numbed me. My reality was so unbearable that my systems shut down so I wouldn’t have to feel my despair. Scarlett was the first gift that had walked into my life…and now I had to return her.
The door opened, and her heels sounded until she rounded the corner.
I stared at the floor, elbows on my knees. “There’s nothing more to say, Scarlett.”
She came into the living room and stood in front of me, blocking the TV.
I looked up to meet her gaze, not having to pretend to be annoyed because I was annoyed. I was annoyed that she didn’t make this easy on me.
She reached behind her back and unzipped her dress.
Oh no…
It fell down around her feet, revealing a black thong and matching bra.
Fuck.
She walked to me in her heels then dropped her knees on either side of my thighs, straddling my hips, her perfume washing over me as her hands palmed my bare chest. Her hand cupped my face, and she looked at me. “I know this is real.”