“Five hundred million is alotof money, even after taxes.” He says it faster, with more force, as though afraid of rejection and its implication on our friendship. “You’ll never lack for anything. I swear. I’ll buy you another necklace, much better than the one you’re wearing.”
“Adam.” My voice cracks as I struggle to find the right words. I don’t want to hurt him, but I don’t know what to do or say. Helplessness overwhelms me, and I wish I could stop time and take a moment to think and pull myself together. “I’m so touched—”
“Five hundred million after taxes would be less than two hundred, not enough to attract a trophy wife as pretty as Grace,” cuts in Huxley’s frigid voice.
Shit. I blink away the tears and turn to him. But he isn’t looking at me. His entire focus is on Adam, his feet shoulder width apart and jaw tight. Every line in his body vibrates with barely leashed violence. Once he’s finished with Adam, he’ll deal with me.
I wanted Huxley to feel the kind of anger Madison aroused in me. But not like this. The focus needs to be about our relationship—not a proposal from a third party that pushes Huxley beyond reason.
“Maybe in your shallow world.” Adam tilts his chin, not to be cowed. “But GG values more than money in a man, and let’s face it—that’s all that you can offer.”
Huxley’s mouth twists into an ugly line. “You’ve come sniffing around my wife one too many times. I can only tolerate your insolence for so long. Do you think winning the lottery makes you somebody?” He scoffs. “You’ll always be a loser with no balls. You know deep down that you have nothing to offer Grace, which is why you boughtlotto tickets. For fuck’s sake, how pathetic do you have to be?”
He suddenly grabs my necklace with both hands, pulls hard until the silver chain snaps and throws it on the floor. I gasp in shock. The red stones scatter like dull pennies.
“My wife doesn’t wear jewelry from another man. The best you can hope to offer is a cheap necklace—or another like it. No amount of money is going to change that.”
Adam turns white, then suddenly blood rushes to his face right before he lunges at Huxley, swinging his fists. Huxley shifts to evade the attack, then knees him in the belly. Gasping, Adam clutches his stomach and collapses.
“Stop it! Both of you!” I cry out, stepping closer to the two men. They aren’t just creating a scene—they’re ruining the charity auction.
Instead of quitting, Adam lunges up, swinging blindly.
“Careful!” Huxley shouts, pulling me back just in time.
Adam’s fist arcs right past my belly. My heart leaps to my throat. A billion beats a minute thunder in my head. I wrap my hands around myself protectively, fear gushing through me. My knees shake, then give out as what could’ve happened if Huxley had been even a second too slow flashes through my mind. He pulls me tight, holding me and putting his body between me and Adam to shield the baby.
“Are you all right?” Concern and fury vibrate through his taut voice.
I nod, still too jittery to speak.
“Oh my God…” Adam says unsteadily, his face turning ghostly white. “I’m so sorry.”
“If you’re sorry, get the fuck out of our lives,” Huxley grinds out.
Adam’s eyes flick to me. Maybe he’s looking for my forgiveness or reassurance. But I’m too shaken to figure out which, and I’m not okay with the way he threw the first punch at Huxley, even if my husband did taunt him. Adam is a lawyer. Surely he could’ve figured out some way to respond without resorting to violence.
When I say nothing, something in his gaze dies a little. Then he walks away, cutting through the rising murmurs around us.
Huxley holds me tighter. Then he says, “We need to talk.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Grace
“What the hell was that about?” Huxley demands as soon as we’re in one of the private rooms set aside for guests who might need to rest. “‘Divorce him and marry me. I’ve always loved you, GG. You’re the only one for me. You never cared for Huxley Lasker, did you?’” he sneers. “What atouchingdisplay of affection. How would you have responded to him if I hadn’t been there?”
The rein on his temper is gone. I do my best to keep my cool even though frustration burns in my chest so hard, it’s painful to draw in air. I only wanted to show how irritating and upsetting it is to have my concerns not taken seriously enough. Instead, Adam proposed and created an unnecessary drama for me to handle. “It wasn’t me, just him,” I say in a calm enough voice.
The veins in Huxley’s forehead visibly pulse. “Don’t treat me like an idiot, Grace. You planned this auction. You knew he was going to be here.”
“I was just as shocked as you were at seeing him. There are other people putting the auction together at the foundation. He could’ve gotten an invitation through one of them.”
“Riiiiight. That’s why you were conveniently wearing his jewelry.” Huxley’s eyes burn with rage as they rake over me.
“I only wore it to show you how infuriating it is to have you ignore me!”
“Iignoredyou?” He glares at me like I just backhanded him. “I bought you emeralds specifically to match your dress!Youencouraged him by putting on the garnets!”
