Page 73 of The Silver Fox Brother

"Madeleine is your assistant."

I remember seeing her months ago when I stopped by his office. Young, brunette, beautiful. She'd smiled at me, handed Rowan a file, and disappeared.

"Winter, please—"

"Answer the question!" I'm gripping the phone so hard my knuckles are white.

"How long have you been sleeping with her?"

Rowan stops pacing and finally looks at me.

"I don't know. A few months. It didn't mean anything."

"A few…months?"

"Maybe longer. I don't know. It just happened."

"Things don't just HAPPEN, Rowan!" My voice is shaking now.

"You made a choice. How. Long."

Silence.

He's still calculating. Still deciding how much truth to give me.

"HOW LONG?"

He flinches at the volume. Takes a breath.

"Nearly a year. Maybe more."

The words hit like a physical blow. My knees actually weaken. I grab the dresser to keep from swaying.

"A year?" I can barely get the words out.

"We've been together for over two years, and you've been cheating for nearly half of it?"

"It wasn't like that—"

“—What was it like then?!" I'm yelling now, don't care if the neighbors hear.

"Explain it to me!"

Rowan turns away from me, pacing again. His hands go through his hair, tugging at the strands.

"You don't understand. You're never here. Always working. What did you expect?"

The words hit me like a slap.

"I expected you to be FAITHFUL." My voice breaks on the word.

"That's what relationships are."

He spins to face me. "You're acting like you're perfect. You've been distant too."

"Because you've been LYING to me!" I'm shouting now, my whole body shaking.

"For over a year!"