Page 126 of His Wicked Revenge

“Oh my God, Leo!” I can see her head spinning inside. Realization after realization continues to play through her mind. Her anger increases every second that passes. “She pretended to be my friend for all these months. I let her be in my wedding! I made her my Maid of Honor for Christ’s sake! And you didn’t at any point think to tell me I was letting a murderer, and the person who put my brother in the hospital, in prison for years, be a part of what is supposed to be the happiest day of my life?”

Her mouth hangs open as she rapidly shakes her head, showing nothing less than a complete and utter shock that I let this happen.

Her eyes meet mine again, with so much disappointment from this information that it makes my heart twist.

Then, she snaps.

“So not only did you lie to me, but you stood by and let me get close to her, trust her, all while knowing it was a ruse? She never wanted to be my friend; she just wanted to get close to you again, and you let her right in! How could you so easily forgive her and let her back into your life? Our lives? I don’t understand why you would do this. To yourself. To me. To Carter. He loves her! I loved her!”

“I’m sorry, okay, but I have it under control,” I try to reassure her.

“Under control? Under control!” she spits the fire into my face. “What’s your plan, Leo? Huh? Did you think the two of you would ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after?”

“No! I didn’t ask for her to come back into my life!” I say, but I stop speaking when Myles approaches us.

“What’s going on?” he questions, looking from my expression, which is full of despair, to his wife’s, which is full of rage.

“Does he know?” She keeps her dagger-shooting eyes on me.

“Do I know what?” Myles asks slowly, voice full of confusion.

“That Camille is the reason my brother went to jail.” She turns just in time to see Myles’s guilty stare. “Oh my God. You did!”

“Chloe, listen… please⁠—”

Her arms go up in defense, but her mouth remains closed. No words leave her because she doesn’t know what else to say.

Between the shock and disbelief that both Myles and I were keeping this from her, she can’t form another sentence. Tears start to well in her eyes from how overwhelming all of this is for her.

When she can finally form a question, she asks, “Why did you do it? Why did you let her back into your life?”

“Because… I love her, Chlo, or at least I thou⁠—”

“Are you serious?” She moves closer to me, and her eyes, which were once filled with anger, quickly fade into sadness, pity, and sympathy as she takes in what I just admitted to her. “She stabbed you, Leo.” She lets out a long sigh and continues, “Someone doesn’t just stab the person they love. She doesn’t love you, Leo. She used you. Again. This is all some kind of sick game of hers. You have to see that.”

“I know. I’m handling it, Chloe. I promise. She will be out of our lives.” Sooner than I anticipated. “Myles, take her up to your room so that she can have a quiet place to calm down. Please?”

He nods, taking Chloe’s hand in his. She doesn’t protest as he walks her towards the exit. Fuck. Not only did this night go to shit because of Veronica, it ruined the happiest day of my sister’s life. I need a place to calm myself down.

Turning around, I head off the dance floor towards the doors that lead to the parking lot. Right now, I don’t know if I’m going outside to find Veronica or get fresh air. I really don’t think seeing Veronica right now will do me any good. Not with how angry I am.

As I pass the remaining guests, I am stopped by the person I didn’t want to talk with.

“Dr. Madden, I never thought I’d see you again.”

Freezing in my spot, I turn my head to look at the woman. “I never thought I’d see you again either. And it’s just Leo now.”

“Ah, yes. You no longer have the doctor title, thanks to my sister,” she says it with such a snarky tone it makes me want to hit something.

Controlling my breathing and anger, I say, “What are you doing here, Stephanie? At my sister’s wedding?”

She sighs. “My friend was invited. She is a friend of a friend and asked if I wanted to be her plus one. I never turn down a chance to get dressed up.”

I nod and offer a tight smile. “Enjoy yourself, then. I have a private matter to attend to.”

I sidestep her, only getting a foot behind her when she says, “With my sister?”

My body freezes, and I slowly turn around to face her. Veronica told me that her sister didn’t recognize her at the shop. She was so sure that she convinced her sister that she wasn’t who she thought.