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I’dbe forced to take the stand and list the gory details of our tryst, which would further humiliateJay.HowcouldItell the worldI’dbeen so physically deprived thatIresponded to a man in my sleep, unable to differentiate his touch from my husband’s?
Thingswould only go downhill onceAxelopened his mouth and gave the public his defense.Hewas out for a walk when he accidentally crossed into my property, only to stumble upon the not-so-picturesque vision of my unconscious, intoxicated body through the glass windows.Withheroic adrenaline, he threw open the unlocked door to check on me.ExceptIhad woken to kiss him and lured him into bed.
Ihad no doubt where public sympathy would land onceAxelprofessed his version of the story.
Boredhousewife lures self-made celebrityAxelTrimalchiointo her bed, then cries rape to cover up the affair.
Slut.Theword bubbled to the surface despite my best effort.
Axelhad the rags-to-riches thing working for him, whereas we were rich because of old money.Thecurrent culture hated generational wealth like ours and preferred self-made men likeAxel.Hewas the green light at the end of the dock, guiding into port those hopeful of hitting the big time by toppling the social ladder.It'dbetter be foolproof ifIpointed an accusatory finger at a beloved celebrity.Unfortunately, this story wasn’t infallible and would only drag theAmbaniname through the mud.
Worstof all,IfearedJaymight believeAxel’sword over mine.Ourmarriage had been rocky as of late, and both of us knew it, too.
Ishoved away the depressing thoughts of my husband not believing me and stared at my phone.MaybeJaywould somehow understand what happened to me.He’dbe furious, but perhaps he’d somehow forgive me.Igrasped my cell phone and called him beforeIcould change my mind.
“What?” cameJay’sgruff voice.
Myheavy soul dragged me down further.Ihadn’t expected such a hostile response off the bat. “Hey,”Isaid softly. “Howare you?”Couldhe hear my guilt or my raspy voice from all the crying?
“Ilanded inChicagonot even an hour ago and just got into bed,” he stated, the unspoken irritation over a needy wife laced in his voice.
Icringed. “Ithought you’d be happy to hear from me.”
Therewas a long pause on the other end of the line.IneededJay.Ihad to tell himIcared for him beforeIunfolded the rest of the story.Buthow couldIwhenJaywas already acting likeIwas a nuisance?Couldhe not tell by my voice that something was wrong?Orperhaps he didn’t care?
Ambanididn’t care that you drank yourself to sleep.Iwas the only one who cared enough to check on you.
Irefused to cover upAxel’svile act, play into his manipulations, or make excuses for his behavior.However, his words aboutJayrang true in my ears.
Myhusband didn’t care about what happened to me tonight.Angerclawed at my heart, andIbit my bottom lip to keep from screaming.
“Piya, it’s late,”Jaysaid with an exasperated sigh.
“I-I,”Istarted hesitantly.
“Piya, it’s the middle of the night,” he spoke patiently, thoughIknew he was tethering at the edge of ire. “Let’sspeak later.Goodnight.”
“Ilove you—”
Jayhung up.Iheld the phone loosely and closed my eyes, wondering ifIwas still the luckiest girl on the planet.
ChapterEight
Milan’sWedding
* * *
Piya
“Youdidn’t answer my question.”TheDJtrailed behind me asIwalked to the parking lot. “What’syour name?”
“Mary.”
“You’relying,” he said automatically.
Asmall smile tugged at my lips at his intuitiveness.Iimmediately scolded myself.Ineeded to stay the hell away from this man.
Givenmy past,Iwas used to tough men and the bad-boy vibes my exes portrayed.Zanemade my exes look like child’s play.Hewas likely in his early twenties, but placing the word “bad” in front of “boy” didn’t make him so.Hewas a badman.Andsomething told me thismancould break me much worse than any of the predecessors.
