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If Bartholomew were there…everyone except my sister and I would be dead right now.
I ignored Victor’s gaze and took a drink of my wine.
My father gave a loud laugh when Lucas said something funny, oblivious to the intensity between Victor and me. I didn’t even know Lucas could be funny because he was too busy being an asshole.
“Excuse us.” Victor rose from the table then pulled back my chair, forcing me to step away from the table.
We entered the house and walked away from the windows.
When he rounded on me, he looked furious. “You said you would give me a chance, but you can’t bear my touch.” Flames burned in his eyes like I’d just thrown gasoline on top. “How is that giving me a chance?”
Wow, he had the audacity to be mad at me? “I said I would give you a chance when I was ready—”
“It’s been two months. That’s plenty of time—”
“That’s nothing when you’re in love.”
His entire body flinched like my words were blasphemy. His eyes shifted back and forth between mine, physically disturbed by the confession.
My feelings had been locked up tight for so long that I’d never admitted it to myself, let alone another person, and Victor, of all people. But the feeling of love was as strong as the feeling of disgust when he touched me, just for two different men.
“You lied to me.”
“No,” I said. “I didn’t. I said when I was ready—”
“You’ve been together this whole time—and you lied about it.”
“What…?”
“Where did the hundred thousand come from?”
They watched my bank accounts? Or did they have access to all the notifications on my phone? Was Victor looking through it every time we were in the same room? “My financial well-being is none of your business.”
“There’s only one person who would send you that kind of money.”
“Even if he did—”
“You lied to me.” Now he raised his voice. “I never had a chance. Not a real one.”
“You know what?” I snapped. “You’re right. You never had a real chance, but it’s not because of him. It’s becauseyou’rethe fucking liar. You told my father everything. You’ve been partners in this since the beginning.”
His eyes turned guarded, but he didn’t deny it.
“So, no, this was never going to work, Victor.” I started to storm off.
He grabbed me by the wrist. “Laura.”
“Let go of me.”
His grip tightened. “Listen to me—”
“I don’t trust a goddamn word out of your mouth.”
“I meant every word I said to you. I was furious at what happened, but there’s no scenario where you get what you want, Laura. I thought if we tempered your anger, we could be a family again. We could be what we used to be—”
“Fuck you.” I twisted out of his grasp and marched off.
This time, he didn’t follow me.
