Page 109 of Scarred Crown

“You know Jules never wanted to get married. Said the idea of marriage was an antiqued institution meant to dominate women.”

My instinct is to become defensive. Instead, I take a deep breath. That sounds like college Jules. I might not have been particularly close to her, but I hovered enough around the edges to see the changes in her. That was her bitter and disenfranchised phase. She hated marriage, and she hated me. Flipped that on its head, didn’t I?

“Guess she changed her mind. People do that.” I shrug and then hold up a finger as I reconsider. “Some people do that. You’ve been the same asshole for years.”

“I’m the asshole?” Alex splays a hand over his chest. “Me? The one upholding every single commitment in Bellerive and abroad for years? The one who’s never had even an inch of the freedom you have? You and Brice team up against me, go on trips together, have inside jokes, mock me openly—despite the two of you dragging Bellerive’s name through the mud—I’m the asshole?” He rises and leans across the broad desk. “I’m not the asshole here.”

“Nobody gives a shit about any of that except for you,” I huff.

“Right. Because I have to. What choice do I have? Once Dad’s gone, I’m the one in charge. I don’t have the luxury of fucking off or fucking up. Whereas you can run off to the Serengeti this year, Nepal last year, and the middle of Australia the year before. Gone for weeks, and none of us dare to contact you. You get away with it because Mom and Dad feel sorry for you. Poor Nicky born into wealth and privilege. Must be so hard for him.” His gaze bores into me. “You go to Vegas and get married on a whim and no one bats an eye.” Alex lets out a frustrated grunt.

“You wouldn’t care, either, except that I happened to get married to Jules.”

“Happened to get married to her? Even the way you talk about your wedding is careless.” He circles the desk so it’s no longer between us. “Neither of you even remembers getting married. It’s a farce. A sham. I bet I know her just as well if not better than you do.”

His comment stings. Is he right?

“What do you know about her anymore? Next to nothing, I bet.” Alex mocks.

“If it wasn’t for you, I’d never have stopped knowing her,” I grit out. He’s wrong. Just because I wasn’t at her side doesn’t mean I stopped noticing her. I never stopped noticing her, tracking her in a room, and listening for any snippet of news on her life.

“That’s my fault? How do you figure?” Alex snatches a pen off his desk and twirls it around his fingers. “I asked you and her point-blank, several times, if there was anything going on between you. If you want to know what she told me, all you have to do is think back to what you told me. The two of you swore up and down you were ‘best friends’ and any romantic connection was ludicrous.” He shakes his head. “How do I become the villain in that scenario? I certainly didn’t chain Jules to my bed all those long afternoons. She came willingly.”

My hand is already clenched at my side, and when he glances at me, the implication of his words is solidified. Yeah, he’s fucking talking about bringing my wife to orgasm. Motherfucker.

So, I hit him. Hard. My fist rams into his jaw and cheek. There’s a satisfying crunch, and he stumbles back.

His hand covers his cheek, and he eyes me from farther away. He wipes his face, and a hint of a smirk plays at the edge of his lips. He works his jaw. I hope a massive bruise blooms for everyone to see and for him to explain in meetings and in front of the press. Every time he’s forced to explain, he’ll remember I’m the one who put it there.

“You’re better at that than when we were kids,” he says.

“Been in a few bar fights with all that freedom I’ve gotten.” Also trended on social media for having a mean right hook.

“How could I forget? I was probably off at some diplomatic event while you were getting drunk in a bar.” He stares at me for a beat. “You can hate what happened between me and Jules, but you can’t change it.”

“You should take your own advice.” I tip my chin at him. “She chose me.”

“Was it a real choice when she was drunk and didn’t know any better? Somehow, I don’t think so.”

“Why can’t you just let it go?” I burst out.

“Because I’ve been the one here with her for the last fourteen years while you’ve been off doing whatever and whoever.”

“Don’t pretend like you don’t know the things I do for Bellerive and for our diplomatic relationships. It’s literally my job, just like you.” I throw out my hands. “You act like you don’t want the responsibility of being first in line when you’ve been rubbing it in my face and Brice’s face since you were old enough to talk.”

“I offered her an annulment.” He gives me a bland look.

He’s put the desk between us again, which is smart because he just keeps ratcheting up my anger. “Why? Do you think if she gets an annulment from me she’ll consider an offer from you? I have a feeling she’s already rejected all those propositions.” I let out a mocking chuckle. “Talk about a scandal.”

A muscle in Alex’s jaw tics. “Deep down, she doesn’t want what you’re offering the same way she didn’t want what I offered. She’s banking on old memories and a lost connection. At some point, neither of those will be enough to satisfy her.”

“Oh, trust me, she’s completely satisfied.”

Alex grimaces before turning away from me. “For now. One of you is going to fuck this up.” He slides me a glance over his shoulder. “I’ll wait.”

I shake my head in disbelief. “You’d rather betray me than support me? Is that really where we’ve landed?”

“Have we ever supported each other?” He faces me, frustration spilling out of him. “The only person who has consistently been there for me is Julia. For years. You and Brice have fucked off at every opportunity and never gave a shit how I felt about anything.”