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“How could you not defend her, Marcus? Everyone knows she is your fiancée, yet you were there yelling at her like she was in the wrong.” It was Danny’s voice.
“She was out of line for getting physical with Ash in the first place. Ash is a little unstable right now, and she isn’t doing well. The slightest thing can set her off the edge.”
And that was her excuse for throwing a glass at me?
“And that is not your problem, Marcus. I don’t know if you think you owe a debt to Sarah, but you don’t. Sarah is dead, and I know it hurts. It hurt her, and it hurt you, but it’s time you move forward. You can’t be her babysitter forever.” Danny was spitting facts. “She has latched onto you like some kind of trauma support blanket, and you only have yourself to blame for that one. But you running to her aid like this is only enabling her.”
So Sarah was dead. I had figured as much seeing as she was such a taboo topic of discussion. For a moment, my heart bled for Marcus. He had lost someone. I had never felt that kind of pain, but I could empathize.
“She doesn’t have anyone here, Danny. You know how bad it got last time when she was in Riverroad.”
“Then she shouldn’t be here, Marcus.” There was a long pause before she continued, “I get that this whole engagement thing is fake but not everyone else knows that. You just embarrassed Maddie in front of everyone in there. You need to apologize to her.”
So he had told her the truth. I admired the fact that she hadn’t treated me poorly after learning the truth behind mine and Marcus’ little arrangement. But that may have also had to do with the ranch as well.
“To the ice queen?” He let out a humorless laugh. “I think she will live.”
“You can try to deny it, but I can see the way you look at her, Marcus. There is something there, you feel something for her.”
There was more silence before he laughed again.
“Please, the day I fall in love with Maddison, hell would have to freeze over. Maddison isn’t the kind of woman you love; she is the kind you fuck for a time and then leave.”
I remember almost two decades ago I had promised myself that I would never allow Marcus Anderson to hurt my feelings. And today I had broken my vow. The pain from his words was unmistakable.
I found it comical that I was upset by his words. It wasn’t even like we had professed our feelings to one another. We had slept together once, and this was all a business agreement. Yet, my heart still felt heavy and burdened.
I felt the bile rise up from my stomach and a lump formed in my throat. I fought against the sting in my eyes. How had I allowed this man to get under my skin?
“Could you be any more crude, Marcus?” Danny sounded disgusted.
No. I wasn’t weak. Maddison Vandlewoods was a queen who never let her crown slip.
I stepped out from behind the wall and made sure to keep my face poised and void of any emotions.
“No,” I said as I drew closer to where they stood a little way from the restaurant. “Being a misogynistic pig is in his nature.”
Danny was the one facing me, and her eyes widened. Marcus’ back tensed at the sound of my voice, and he slowly turned to face me. He kept his face passive, but his mask wasn’t as good as mine because I saw the regret in his eyes.
I didn’t know what exactly he regretted, and I didn’t care.
“Are you okay?” She pointed to my head.
I pressed my hand where the glass had hit me and winced when I made contact with the small bump. Marcus took a step toward me, and I took one back.
“Don’t pretend to care now, Anderson.” I looked to Danny. “I think I’m going to just get checked by Ethan. I’m going to head home.”
“Maddison…” Marcus started, but I held my hand up.
“I will send you the contract agreement for the ranch tomorrow, Danny.” I smiled at her before turning to Marcus. I stared at him in the eye hoping he got my message loud and clear.
Fuck you.
I brushed past him and made my way into the restaurant to retrieve my things. I ignored the whispers and the stares and just kept my head up.
I may not have been a Vandlewoods by blood, but I was one in every way that counted. I held my head high all the way home until I finally broke and shed a tear or two.
