“Ah, yes,” Matthew said. “Itwouldbe spite and jealousy that would make you come to me.”
Her face contorted, eyebrows forming a nasty line. “You’ve humiliated me.”
“I don’t see how.” He shrugged. “I didn’t write this. You shouldread what they write about me.”
He crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it into a rubbish bin as they walked.
Vivian’s bottom lip jutted out in a pout. “I knew you were angry,but you’ve taken it too far. If you’re doing this to hurt me, you’ve succeeded.”
Sniffling, moisture collected in her eyes, but he had seen her crocodile tears too many times to fall for it. He saw her for who she truly was now. She weaponized her emotions to manipulate him and keep him in her thrall. He had fallen for it repeatedly, but never again.
“My relationship with Jasmine has nothing to do with you.”
“Two days and it’s a relationship?” she seethed. “How long have you been planning this? You’re going to walk out onme—the only woman who has satisfied your every request, listened to you cry like ababy. All thrown away the moment she steps off a ship? You’ve played me for a fool.”
“Playedyou?” He gritted his teeth and struggled to keep his voice low. “Need I remind you who hurt who?” He inhaled sharply. “My mind hasn’t changed since our argument.”
It had been a screaming match, loud enough to shake the walls. Loud enough to knock some sense into him.
“You overreacted, but I forgive you,” she said. “We both said things we didn’t mean.”
“I meant everything I said,” he corrected. “Especially the part where I said we’re finished.”
“We do this all the time.”
“Not anymore.”
Ahead on the path, a large group of people passed by. He waited until they were far enough away before he spoke.
“I was faithful to you, per our agreement. I expected the same. You want to explore your options? I wish you the best of luck.” His eyesnarrowed. “But Irefuseto be your toy while you search for a ‘reputable’husband.”
“You’re a hypocrite,” she bit out. “You’re using that as an excuse. This is all because of her.LadyJasmine.” She met his eyes and said pointedly, “She looks like me, Matthew.”
“No,” he said slowly. “Youlook likeher.”
Acid dripped from Vivian’s next words. “Does she know what you do to women who look like her?”
Matthew shot her a grin and made a promise to himself. “She will.”
Her voice rose. “If she’s so perfect, where has she been these last few years? She tried out an entire country, and you think she’s come back to settle foryou?”
He flinched. Vivian always knew how to cut him to the quick. And maybe he wasn’t good enough for Jasmine, but that hardly mattered anymore.
“I’ve had her father’s blessing since the day she wasborn,” he said. “I’m marrying her as soon as I’m able.”
Vivian froze in the middle of the road—her breath shuddered, her shoulders stiffened, and she snapped her gaze to his.
“Howdareyou?” Her nostrils flared. “Do you honestly believe that she’ll wantanythingto do with you when she finds out about your depravities?”
“We’ll see.” He gave a shrug and a simple, “I’m sure I’ll have no problem pleasing her once she’s my wife.I suppose I have you to thank for that—”
Vivian dropped her parasol, then slapped him across the face. The strike landed high on his cheekbone, leaving a scathing rush of pain and heat. With a sneer that could have turned a lesser man into stone, she spat, “Go to hell, Matthew.”
Murmurs and whispers filled the park. Haughty and proud, Vivian collected her parasol and raised it once more. The back of Matthew’sneck burned, and he tensed with the restraint of keeping his expression neutral. Shewantedhim to shout, to apologize, to beg her to come back to him. She craved an emotional response, but he was through with satisfying her.
He stood tall, adjusted his coat and centered his hat. He opened his watch, eyes lingering on Jasmine’s portrait before closing it with a snap. “Your time is up. Goodbye, Lady Ravenshaw.”
Matthew didn’t spare another glance at her as he walked away. A gut-wrenching tension coiled in his stomach. Vivian had only ever seen the worst in him.
