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“I’ve been ecstatic ever since Liam told me at your wedding.”
My smile vanished completely as the oh-so-familiar feeling of betrayal started to spread its venom through my veins.
My heart hammered madly in my chest as all the sounds around me drowned into silence. Matt slowly looked between me and his brother, acknowledging that I was starting to put the pieces together.
He knew about Jamie. He knew she was an Amato. And by what had been decided by The Commission, with her marrying Liam, which would clearly happen sooner rather than later, I would be free.
And Matt knew.
I couldn’t help the anger that boiled inside me from spilling into my words even if I tried.
"YOU. KNEW!"
Chapter 13
Francesca
I wasn't sad. I was enraged.
Not with them, but with myself, for thinking this could be anything other than a business agreement. Both Matt and Liam knew Jamie was an Amato before the marriage, so my sacrifice for the sake of peace between our two families wasn't needed.
Jamie and Liam were clearly in love, and with their marriage, our families would be tied, and I would be free to marry anyone I chose to. Or not even marry at all! Why did they do this? Why did they still carry on with this sham of a wedding if it was completely unnecessary?
“YOU KNEW!” I spat. My revolt was evident in those two little words. “You knew she was an Amato before we got married? You knew I didn’t have to marry?”
“Francesca.”
“I don’t even need an answer. It’s written all over your goddamn face. You lying son of a bitch.”
“Don’t do anything you might regret later,” Matt warned, slowly stalking towards me.
“Too late. I’ve done that already, haven't I?” I meant so much more than the wedding. I had let my guard down with him. I trusted him, and he pissed all over it before it even happened.
“Francesca…” He trailed off, half between a warning and what sounded like a plea, stretching his hand to touch me as I backed away towards the elevator.
“Don't even try!” I grabbed my keys, my phone, and my purse before I let myself disappear behind the closing doors of the elevator.
There was absolutely no way I was going to stay and listen to whatever lies he had ready to tell me. I needed to think this through before making any decisions. I couldn’t do what my heart demanded, but my brain telling me to throw the damn wedding ring at his face couldn’t be right either. I needed some air.
Heading off to Central Park, I walked as far into it as I could, no destination in mind, just inhaling the fresh air until my lungs were full, expelling it harshly, hoping my anger would follow.
This all started out as a marriage agreement, nothing but a contract, but over these past two weeks, things had changed. They had, right? Or was it all in my head?
Maybe it was just some sick brainwashing technique to make me forget what our marriage was about. But the bottom line here was that he lied. Tricked me into marrying him, and I… I was already forgiving him for it.
No you don’t. Not this time.
I focused on the gutting feeling of betrayal that slashed through me, trying as hard as I could not to run back and make peace.
That’s exactly what I used to do with Eric. All his shitty behavior would mean nothing alongside the prospect of losing him. So I would lower my standards, or some kind of fucking selective amnesia instantly settled in, making me soft and forgiving, just so he didn’t leave me.
I’m being her again.
I was on my way back towards the pit I was in four years ago. And that shitty behavior, that big detail that could have completely changed the course of my life, was now almost insignificant.
But it wasn’t insignificant. I just didn’t want to lose Matt.
Was it enough for me to end it all?
