Chapter 150
Instead he looks down at me with that same infuriating smirk.
“Temper, temper p>
“Let!. Go p>
He tilts his head slightly.
“Oh come on now, dis you really think marrying you was because I loved you p>
For a split second, something flickers across my chest… something uncomfortable but I shove it down immediately.
“Of course not,” I snap.
Zane’s eyebrow lifts slightly.
“No p>
“No p>
I pull against his grip again.
“I know exactly why you married me p>
“And why is that p>
I glare up at him.
“Because mt grandfather arranged it between you aand my sister ivy but I decided to be a Good Samaritan and stand in for her p>
The words feel bitter coming out of my mouth.
“It was a deal,” I continue. “A business arrangement between you and him p>
Zane studies my face closely, tpo closely.
“Is that what you think p>
“It’s what I know p>
His eyes move over my face slowly, searching.
“You’re very sure about that p>
“Yes p>
“Well that’s another thing I let you believe. I let you believe you had a choice, that you’re some martyr for saving your sister ivy.” He pauses to bop my nose with that same infriuanting smile on his face.
“When in truth you had no choice in the matt r really. You see… my little spitfire every plan I made right from my arrangement with your grandfather to you marrying me was carefully crafted by me. I studied you fr years, saw the patterns and I kneq you would try to step in for your beloved sister. The only thing I didn’t bargain for was your sickness, but that’s oka as it aided you agreeing to marry me. I knew if I went to your grandpa and offered him a deal so good he won’t have any choice to to agree to my terms and your dear bro in turn won’t have any choice but to listen to his dearest grand father. He pauses again adjusting his grip on me.
“I had you exactly where I wanted you little spitfire. Had you in my bed, in my house with that tight wet cunt wrapped around my dick p>
I yank my wrists again, trying not to let the hurt frm his words show on my face. I don’t knw why it hurts but for some weird reason it does.
“Now let go of me p>
For a second longer, he just stands there holding my hands with his fingers wrapped around my wrists, his body close enough that I can feel the heat coming off him.
Then he releases me abruptly.
I immediately step back, putting space between us. My wrists feel warm where he held them, so I rub them instinctively as I scramble my brain trying for a change of topic, my heart beating over time.
Zane watches the movement.
“You’re angry,” he says.
“You think p>
His mouth curves slightly.
“You hit me p>
“You deserved it p>
“Did I now p>
“Yes p>
I pace a few steps away from him, my head spinning with frustration.
“I came here to have an actual conversation with you p>
“And we’re having one p>
“No,” I snap, turning back to face him. “You’re throwing insults around like a damn child p>
Zane’s eyes narrow slightly.
“Careful now p>
“Oh please.” My hands fly up in exasperation.
“You’re acting like Lucas personally set up your sister to die p>
“He might as well have p>
“That’s not fair p>
“He touched her,” Zane says sharply.
“They were together p>
“He hid it from me p>
“Because she was scared of your reaction p>
“And look how right she was,” Zane shoots back.
The room falls quiet again my chest rising and falling quickly as I try to calm my breathing.
For a long moment we just stare at each other, two people standing on opposite sides of something broken.
Finally I shake my head.
“This is pointless p>
Zane’s expression hardens.
“Running away again p>
“I’m not running away p>
“You’re leaving p>
“Because you refuse to listen p>
“I’ve listened plenty p>
“No,” I say firmly. “You’ve decided what you believe and you’re not willing to question it p>
Zane doesn’t answer, which somehow feels like an answer.
I grab my bag from where I dropped it on the chair near the door.
“I’m done talking about this today p>
His voice follows me as I turn toward the door.
“You’re defending him p>
I stop walking and slowly I turn back.
“I’m trying to understand what actually happened p>
“He told you his story and you believed him p>
“I told you already,” I say quietly. “I believe that he believes what he said p>
“And what about me p>
The question hangs between us as I hesitate.
Then answer honestly.
“I think you believe what you’re saying too p>
Zane’s eyes darken slightly which means the truth probably hit somewhere close to where it hurts. Good he should hurt like I’m hurting now.
But I don’t stay to see his reaction, I turn and walk out of the office before either of us can say something we can’t take back.
The moment I step out of Zane’s office, the cool air of the hallway hits my face.
It doesn’t help though, my chest is still tight and my hand kind of still stings faintly from where I slapped him. My thoughts are running in circles, replaying the look on his face when he said those things so calm, so deliberately cruel, how can one be lik tht? Just intentionally want to hurt people.
The hallway outside his office is quieter than before, but there are still people moving around behind glass cubicles and desks. The low hum of phones ringing, keyboards clicking, and muted conversations it all feels strangely distant.
Aaron is leaning against the side of a cubicle a few feet away, talking quietly with one of the employees. When he sees me step out of the office, he immediately straightens as concern flickers across his face.
He pushes away from the cubicle and starts walking toward me.
“Elaine p>
I raise a finger without even looking at him.