Ring me.
I suspected Joe was not a Joe and that Duncan was talking with his ex. My throat started to close as I fought the pain within me.
He still loves her. He doesn’t love me. Hecouldn’tlove me.
I played along for the rest of the engagement, but I wasn’t about to let Duncan get away with this. He could do many things to me, but cheating on me wasn’t one. I saw red.
I approached my principal as he talked to a pretty nurse in the corner and rolled my eyes.How could I be so stupid?He obviously found her attractive. All I could assume now was that his words on exclusivity and his strong feelings were pillow talk.
While he flirted, I inserted myself and whispered.
“Your Royal Highness, wrap it up.” I tapped my watch. “We need a minute before your speech.”
He nodded and wrapped up his flirtatious conversation.
“What is happening? Are you alright?”
I pulled him into a hallway where his detail surrounded us for privacy.
“You tell me,” I said.
“Miss Mills, I’m genuinely concerned.”
“Yeah, that’s why you’re talking to her like she’s a piece of meat, right?”
“Miss Mills, I did no such thing. What is going on with you?”
“What is going on withyou? I think I’m owed some sort of explanation.”
Duncan furrowed his brow. “Darling, I do not know what you mean.”
I tried to hold it together, my face remaining neutral as I seethed internally. “Why don’t you ask Joe?”
“Joe?”
I handed him his mobile phone and his face dropped.
“Ella, I can explain?—”
“Can you? Because it looks pretty obvious what you meant.”
“Eloise, I don’t know what she said?—”
“She’s Nessa, right?”
“Yes,” he answered. “But let me explain?—”
“Did you or did you not tell her you still loved her?” I demanded, keeping my voice low by some miracle.
His face twisted and his anger emerged once more. “If I did, it was ages ago.”
“Liar!” I called him out. “I cannot believe I ever trusted you. I’m so fucking dumb, Duncan!”
“Keep your voice down!” His voice shook me.
He grabbed my wrist, but I pulled free. “Do not touch me!”
“Eloise, it is complicated. I did love her. I always will?—”
