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Chapter 29
Jasmine
Jasmine sipped the tea Belle had brought her, tasting nothing. She wanted something stronger. Alcohol that would burn hotter than the searing pain in the place where her heart should be.
She peeked out the window. Zoey was happily playing with her cousins. Her sisters-in-law and Mia all sat around her on Belle’s bed in silent support. Andre had gone to the inn, in case her other guests needed anything. Bently went with him, but apparently Atlas’s room was empty when he arrived, both brothers nowhere to be found. Mikel and Bently were in the backyard playing with the kids. Bently’s eyes wandered up to the window every few minutes, worried.
Jasmine closed her eyes, fighting off the tears. Embarrassment heated her skin. She’d let her guard down for the last time. She was just getting used to being loved by someone and then the rug had been ripped out from under her. A rogue wave of reality came crashing over her, pulling her so deep into the depths of the dark sea that it seemed easier to give in than swim up. Oliver was actually Zoey’s father. Atlas’s twin. She’d fucked one brother and fallen in love with another. How much more of a slut could she be?
Shame weighed heavily on her shoulders, wrapped around her neck like a millstone. Zoey deserved a better mother. Maybe she’d be better off without her.
“Jaz? Do you want to talk about it?” Remy asked.
No. She absolutely did not want to tell them what a whore she was.
You’re nothing but a whore.
Sucking me off—it’s all you’re good for.
You’re nothing but a tease.
Useless slut.
A warm hand rested on her thigh. She blinked her eyes open. Belle offered her a sympathetic smile. “We’re here for you.”
If anyone was going to understand this, it would be Belle. “Atlas isn’t Zoey’s father.”
The women exchanged confused looks. “What do you mean?”
Jasmine sighed. She’d made choices and now she had to face the consequences. “His twin brother is.”
Remy clapped a hand over her mouth.
“Dios mio,” Mia said.
“Why don’t you start from the beginning,” Belle suggested.
Jasmine explained what had happened as the women grew more outraged.
“El cabron!” Mia swore.
“I’m so sorry, Jasmine.” Remy pulled her into a hug.
“I’m the one at fault here.”
“How do you figure that?” Belle asked.
“I fucked his brother and was such a slut I didn’t even know who Zoey’s father was.”
“This is just one huge misunderstanding. You and Atlas can work it out. I’m sure—”
“He doesn’t want anything to do with me. He said if he’d known . . . he would never have started something with me. He was just here to buy my inn.”
Mia clicked her tongue and crossed her arms.
“There’s no way how that man looked at you was fake. He cared about you,” Remy said.
Cared.Past tense. “If there was anything, it’s gone now. I poured my heart out to him. I risked everything. I told him more than I’ve told anyone, and he threw it all back in my face.”
