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“No, Rocco wasn’t nearly as successful as I’m sure he hoped to be,” Carter bit out. “I’m going to bed,” he said abruptly.
Scarlett followed him upstairs and into the master bedroom. As she undressed, he looked over at her. “I haven’t slept more than two hours,” she explained. “I’m tired too, and I’d love for you to just hold me.”
“I’m too tired to comfort you, Scarlett,” he said tersely.
Biting back her hurt, Scarlett nodded complacently. “Then I’ll be content to lie beside you.”
“I’d prefer to sleep alone at the moment.” He was uncompromising. “I’m dirty, and I don’t feel like taking a shower.”
“I see.” Scarlett gulped, fighting back tears. “Then I’ll return to my old room.”
“That would be best,” he agreed tonelessly, keeping his face blank as she threw on her shirt and left.
Scarlett returned to her old room, but she couldn’t sleep. She packed a small suitcase with a few outfits, before unpacking. After everything was put away, she ended up yanking the carry-on from the closet again and refilling it. She didn’t want to run away from Carter, but she couldn’t continue to deal with his sudden unrelenting hostility. He seemed to hold her partially responsible for the fire simply because he suspected Rocco had set it.
Sighing, Scarlett sat down on the bed, refusing to cry. To her surprise, she started feeling sleepy, so she stretched out, leaving the suitcase on the foot of the bed.
It was several hours later when her eyes opened, and Scarlett groaned as she discovered an ache in her neck from sleeping in a strange position. She rose from the bed and stretched, noticing the suitcase and remembering she’d considering running away.
She couldn’t leave without talking to Carter, or she would lose him forever. Ignoring her rumpled clothes and bed hair, Scarlett walked down the hall and knocked on Carter’s door. She figured he would already be awake and busy downstairs, but he opened the door. Scarlett’s body throbbed when she saw he was wearing only a toweling robe, and his dark hair was sleek and wet. “We need to talk,” she said, pushing her way past him before he could object.
“I don’t have time,” he protested.
“Make time,” Scarlett snapped. “I’ve been patient for the last few days, but I’m tired of waiting for you to make time for me. I need to know what’s going to happen between us.”
“Now is not the time,” he said firmly. “I’m going to be quite busy for the next few days, so I suggest you entertain yourself as best you can until I can deal with you.”
“I’m not a child.”
“Dammit, Scarlett,” Carter snapped, glancing at the clock by the bed. “I have to go soon.”
Taking a deep breath, Sc
arlett raised her head. “Since you’re going to be so busy for the next few days, I’m going to go visit my sisters.”
Carter’s eyes narrowed, and his head snapped up, “I see,” he said coldly. “Mission accomplished, so you’re on your merry way?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You had me fooled.” Carter shook his head. “I honestly believed you loved me for a while, but your father spilled your big secret. I know you were manipulating me all along.”
Scarlett’s mouth hung open. “You’re an idiot to believe him. You’re the one who showed me what a liar he is! Don’t do this, Carter. Don’t throw away our relationship because of my father. He’s done enough to you. Don’t let him ruin this too.”
“I’ll have the car return you to Terini Manor,” Carter said distantly.
“I only wanted to visit my sisters,” she said, desperation nearly choking her. Swallowing, Scarlett said, “That isn’t even true. I was just hoping to jar you out of this funk you’ve been in. I don’t want to leave.”
“Very convincing performance.” He clapped mockingly. “If you were an actress, you’d be packing the theater. Your conscience can be absolved of hurting me. You never meant enough to me to allow me to be hurt by you.”
“That’s not true,” Scarlett cried. “You love me.”
“You’re not the only actor, Scarlett.”
“You must love me, or you wouldn’t have given Father his house back.”
“That’s all part of my plan,” he dismissed. “Now, the car will be waiting for you shortly, so I suggest you pack.”
“Don’t send me away,” Scarlett begged.
