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Chase
Ichompedintomy cheek. Seeing tears pooling in her pretty eyes broke my heart. But I couldn’t lie.
“It’s true that my dad laid down an ultimatum.” I swallowed tightly. “But I miss you whenever you’re not around. I like the idea of us being married.”
“Would you have asked me if he hadn’t made that demand?”
I took a moment to answer, my chest tied in knots. I had to tell her the truth. One didn’t lie to their soul mate, did they?
“To be honest, no. I wouldn’t have asked you. Yet.”
Tears splashed on Ivy’s cheeks. I wanted to rock her in my arms. It was tearing me apart to witness her pain, which had become my pain.
All because of me.
Shit. Why didn’t I just lie?
“I’m crazy about you, Ivy. I’m sure you would have been the one.”
“Would have?” She removed the ring and set it in my hand. “Take it. It’s probably not even your grandma’s.”
“It was hers, and that’s not what I meant.” I raked my hands through my hair vigorously.
Shit.
“Don’t do this,” I pleaded.
“You’re just scared you’ll lose your inheritance and have to struggle like the rest of us,” she fired back.
“Well, no… I mean, sure, I’m used to a certain lifestyle…” This was not an easy discussion. I needed a drink.
She sprang off the bed. “Fine. That’s what I thought. I’ll pretend nothing’s happening and enjoy myself at the party. And in the morning, I’ll leave. You’ll be sleeping on the sofa too.”
I opened my palms. “Ivy, don’t do this. I…”
She stormed off.
How did she fucking find out?
I went over it in my head and there was only one person that I’d told.
Hunter was joking with a couple of the guests when I found him. “Can I have a word?”
He excused himself and joined me on the balcony.
“Good time for a cigar.” He pulled out a box and handed me one. “Celebrations are in order, I believe.”
I sucked on the cigar while he lit me up. Blowing out smoke, I said, “Not anymore.”
“What do you mean? A minute ago, it was all hugs and kisses.”
I puffed. “Someone told Ivy I had to marry to save my ass.”
A line formed between his brows. “Shit. Really? Who else knows?”
Hunter could never tell a lie. He was a shit actor.
“Only you.” Then it occurred to me that Sara had been at the bookshop when I opened up to Hunter about my predicament. “It must have been your wife.”
