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“Everything is consensual. Some girls take the drugs prior because their nerves get the better of them.”
“Why are you even here, Shawn? Why the hell did you leave Usher and Gainsburg to come here and watch young women being auctioned off, whether it’s against their will or not?”
“Because I bought into something that it wasn’t. I was sold a dream and ended up with a fucking nightmare. Before I realized what was happening, I’d sunk myself into such a deep hole it wouldn’t matter how or when I escaped because I’m just as guilty as the next person here.”
“I’m happy you can admit it’s fucked up.”
“Blythe, it’s more than fucked up. That’s why I couldn’t tell you. I was approached with a business deal I thought could earn us millions. So, I bought into it. I was lied to, I was cheated. I was blackmailed. I was beaten when I tried to leave. That time I disappeared for three weeks straight, I was laid up in a hotel because I didn’t want you to see the state I was in.”
I feel my face pale. I had no idea about any of this. No fucking idea.
“This has been happening all year?”
He nods. “I learned quickly after that how far I could push the boundaries. All my… our assets, are tied to this place. Financial records will lead right back to us, and I couldn’t have you implicated in such a thing. Something I was only learning about myself. The whole endeavor became a rabbit hole full of the most fucked-up shit I’ve ever seen. And there’s no way I can get out of it.”
“You could have told me, Shawn.” Tears start to fall, and while I’m still mad over his poor decisions, he isn’t totally at fault. He’s been royally screwed over.
“I couldn’t tell you. There were threats made against your life if I did. I could never have allowed you to get hurt like that. So, I had to hurt you with my constant lies and behavior instead. If I told you, you would have looked at me with such disgust, and I couldn’t bear that thought.”
“Did you cheat on me with any of those girls?”
“Never. I flirted, but that was only to win their trust, but I never broke those boundaries. I wouldn’t do that to you, Blythe. I love you more than you can ever comprehend. I never stopped.”
While my heart surges at hearing the words I’ve longed to hear for so long and said with such sincerity, I’m wracked with so much soul-destroying guilt. Because I can’t say the same, despite wishing I could go back in time and undo it all.
“Blythe, please look at me.” I don’t even realize I’m crying but my chest aches and my cheeks are sodden. “Babe, please don’t cry. Just look at me.”
I swallow hard and meet his eyes which are loaded with hope.
Hope for an us.
An us that may not survive this, mentally or physically.
“I’m sorry, Shawn,” I say through broken sobs. He may have royally fucked up but so have I. “I’m so sorry for—”
“You don’t need to be sorry. I could see how much I was hurting you, and all those times I walked away leaving you in tears was because I just wanted to hold you in my arms. We can get through this, Blythe. We’ve always been a team, and we’ve always loved each other. We can get through this.”
“I don’t think we—”
“Do you still love me, Blythe? If you still love me, say it, and I promise we can get through anything. We can go to Cabo like you said and—”
“We can’t get—” I break, sobbing hard because our marriage will never be the same despite how desperately I want it to be. We’ve both committed heinous crimes against each other. Shawn tries to shuffle closer, but stops when one of the thugs at the door lifts his Glock in warning.
“Babe, if you say you love me, we will work all this out and nothing will matter. If you don’t, I promise I’ll let you be. I won’t harass you. I won’t contact you. But I need to know if there’s still a chance I can make it up to you. Just tell me, do you still love me?”
“Yes, Blythe. Do you?” The familiar voice is like a knife through my heart. He rounds the corner slowly, his presence filling the room. Eyes are narrowed with challenge, his strong jawline set like stone. There isn’t an ounce of warmth to be had, and when I see little Toby asleep in his arms, I start to panic because I realize he isn’t here to save me.
“Kane,” I say, momentarily confused. “You’re Prospero?”
“You didn’t know?” Sam interjects my thoughts.
“This is all you?” I ask, feeling a panic attack coming on.
