And that’s when I heard the low voice of the man I loved, but it was filled with an anger I didn’t recognize. “Why thefuckare you in here?”
Mia
OF COURSEJAMESONwas mad that I ventured into this room with her, that a truth had been uncovered that he didn’t want me to know. He’d deceived me, had lied and twisted facts, but his only concern was where I was in his house?
I could have killed him.
I wanted to. I wanted him to understand and feel my pain, but I let the silence stretch instead. Let him see the wife he had behind me and watched how his face changed.
The fury growing in his eyes brought me a sliver of satisfaction and relief, but not much. He didn’t gasp like he’d seen a ghost or even look at all surprised to see her. I hated that I’d been hoping all she said wasn’t true, that I wanted to justify the connection we had with each other. It only took me looking at him to know she wasn’t lying.
Jameson had kept all this from me.
“I think it’s best I leave,” I murmured, knowing they needed to talk more than I wanted to admit. Jameson and I would be done in the end anyway.
There was no repairing this.
“No.” He stepped in front of me, his brow wrinkled like he was concerned now. “You’re definitely not leaving this room,Darling.” Then he opened the door wide and looked at his wife. “Shecan and will.”
“Jameson,” Lex gasped, but a slow smile crossed her face as she stood. “You’re not even going to welcome me into my own home.”
“Getoutof this room and wait downstairs to talk with me.”
“My love, you don’t have to do that. Mia understands.” She folded her thin, manicured fingers together and looked at me. “Right, Mia? We spoke about the fact that we’re still married.”
Jameson’s jaw moved, but he didn’t deny it. He stood there and let his wife tell me that he was hers. Not mine.
Never had he been mine.
My heart froze, cracked, and shattered in front of both of them. It took all I had not to break down and cry. To grab at all the tiny pieces of myself I saw crumbling apart. But neither of them deserved my tears. I’ll forever be happy that I was able to mutter, “Yes, I understand everything she said.”
“Alexandra, get out of here or so help me God, I’ll have you dragged out.” Jameson’s threat was quiet, but it echoed in the room with finality.
She tsked and smiled at me as she made her way to the door. “Told you he’d be mad. I know my husband so well.” She patted his chest once, and he winced at her touch before she left us alone.
The wordhusbandlingered in the air, ricocheting around my heart so loudly that I couldn’t contemplate his reaction to her.
“What do you mean youunderstand, Mia Darling?” His words were measured as we stood there, facing off with each other.
He had the audacity to look hurt, to look like he was broken, like he had any right to feel anything at all.
“I understand that you’re married,” I stated, and was happythat my voice didn’t shake. “That you have a life with a kid and awife.”
That word choked me, and my hand flew to my mouth to hold back the sob. When he stepped forward, though, I jumped back, and his hands flew up like he wouldn’t dare come near me if I didn’t want him to. “Now, Mia …”
Oh God, I couldn’t listen to an explanation. Not one word. I wanted no appeasements or rationalizations. I wanted to say my piece and leave. I deserved that at the very least. “You know, I thought maybe you’d get there. Start to share your life with me a little, and thenmaybethis room. But you weren’t going to do any of that, were you?”
He frowned at me. “That’s what you think?”
“It’s what Iknow. You’ve never had the ability to trust me, or maybe you didn’t care to, since you knew. You’ve known about her this whole time, haven’t you? And you’re just going to keep up this fucking power trip you all are on without thinking of the turmoil and destruction it causes. This syndicate isn’t about protecting someone like me. I don’t belong. You protect what’s yours.Adamantem infractum manet.”
“You think you’re not mine.” It wasn’t a question but a statement that he said almost to himself as he rubbed his jaw. And then he stood there shaking his head over and over. He wanted to disagree with me, but then it was like recognition dawned, like reality set in. Maybe he finally got over the shock of actually seeing his wife return and he realized he could have the perfect home with all the partnerships and everything he wanted.
“Jameson, let’s be honest with one another for once. This was never going to work because you couldn’t trust me enough to make me yours.”
“And you just expected that trust?”
“I told you everything! I was sleeping with you and—”
