Page 51 of Temporary Wife Temptation

“What did he promise you, Natalie? Did he tell you he loves you?”

“Who?”

“Peter Klapper.” He watched for her reaction. Guilt? Fear? All he saw was bewilderment.

“How do you know Peter?” She cocked her head.

“I had the misfortune of being the target of his corporate-espionage scheme.”

“Peter? Corporate espionage?” Finally, her face reflected the horror he’d been expecting and her hands dropped to her sides. “But how? He used to be a little full of himself, but I can’t imagine him doing anything illegal. Besides, he doesn’t have any money or connections.”

“He doesn’t need money. He’s just a pawn for someone who has it. As for connections, you supplied those for him, didn’t you?”

Natalie stumbled back from him. “What are you saying?”

“Do you love him?” He took a step toward her and she retreated a step. “Is that why you betrayed me?”

“Me?” Her hands flew to her mouth and the blood drained from her face. “You think I stole information from you to help Peter?”

“Are you trying to tell me it’s a coincidence he was your lover?”

“Yes. He was my lover for a brief time. It was a long time ago,” she said, her voice soft and trembling. “Tell me. Are you playing six degrees of separation or investigating corporate espionage?”

“I am not playing a game. I’m confronting my wife about being unfaithful to me,” he roared, pain searing his heart. “Did he tell you he loves you? Did he promise you forever?”

“Listen, goddamn it.” She took a step toward him with her hands outstretched, and this time, he stepped back from her. “I love you. Only you.”

“Of course. Love.” A ragged laugh tore from his throat.

Her eyes widened and she swayed slightly on her feet. He fisted his hands to stop himself from steadying her. A part of him shouted for him to stop. To listen. To think. But he couldn’t do any of that. The pain and fear he’d run from for so long nipped at his heels, and if he stopped, those feelings would catch him—hurt him.

“I’ve never said those words to another man.”

“Words. Mean. Nothing,” he spat.

She hunched forward as though he’d hurt her physically. Her eyelids flickered and her lips parted but no words came out.

Samantha had said she loved him. They were only twenty but he’d asked her to marry him and she’d accepted. All those lonely years after his mom died... He thought she would fill that void. But when she found out his trust fund couldn’t be accessed until he was twenty-five, she’d left him for a guy who had immediate cash to burn. Words meant nothing.

“Are there any more secrets you kept from me?”

“Yes.” He flinched even though she had whispered the word. “I was going to tell you, but I was too afraid to find out what it would mean for us.”

“Find out what? What were you going to tell me?”

“Sophie’s adoption was finalized.” Her shoulders shook but she held his gaze. “Everything we bargained for—your deal with Vivotex, Sophie’s adoption... We did it. We won. Now there is no reason for us to stay married...except I couldn’t bear for us to end. I wanted forever with you.”

“I don’t believe you, and I sure as hell don’t believe in love and forever.” His head spun and he barely managed to stay on his feet. “It’s over.”

He wanted to snatch the words back as soon as they left his mouth. It wasn’t over. He would beg her to leave Klapper.

But her blood drained from her face and she stood eerily still. Fear gripped his throat. No. Please, no.

“You’re right.” Her voice was steady and strong when she spoke at last. “It really is over.”

Natalie walked past him with her chin held high. Every nerve in his body screamed for him to stop her but he couldn’t. Time must have passed because the next thing he knew, Natalie was standing in front of him again, fully dressed and holding a suitcase in her hand.

“I’m leaving.”

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