Page 20 of Vintage

She detached herself from Reese but made no move toward me, clearly stating that I had crossed boundaries I should never have approached.

"Get lost, Ro. I don’t even want to look at the face of a bastard who strayed in his marriage and then had the audacity to keep his wife trapped. Thank your girlfriend for stopping by and having the skills to break in, so I could get some assistance from her." She spat, not pausing for a moment or allowing me the opportunity to explain.

I was utterly confused about what she meant.

Willow and I had never been like that, no matter how captivating she was or the allure that surrounded her whenever I was near. Nothing could ever compel me to betray my marriage or break the vows I made to the woman I loved.

"You have to let me defend myself!" I stepped away from the bed, maintaining a safe distance to keep myself from acting out inappropriately.

Anger was not my ally, after all.

The thought that Amery sought Dimitri's help made my stomach churn. She viewed me as nothing more than an abuser now, and perhaps, yes, I was responsible for much of this.

But if history were to repeat itself, I would choose the same path again.

Amery is mine.

"Defend yourself all you want, but I’m not falling for your nonsense. Ro, you’ve let me down enough already; don’t resort to cheap manipulation tactics. They won’t work on me."

I took a deep breath, turning myself into a silent wall that absorbed the blows of her words.

It wasn’t meant to hurt, but it did, and it cut deep.

"Willow is not my girlfriend, Amery, and I haven't broken any of our promises—"

"That's where you're mistaken. In our marriage, you were meant to protect me, but I forgot to ask who would shield me from you if things took a turn for the worse."

Reese kept her head down, choosing not to interrupt, but she remained close to Amery, her presence a source of support for her friend, and it brought me some comfort knowing Amery wasn't entirely alone.

"I have no idea how she even got into our home—"

"Yours, Ro. Your home. It's not mine anymore. I'm leaving. I'm filing for a divorce, whether you like it or not!" She stated flatly, turning her gaze away from me.

I couldn't help but feel the tightness in my chest and the throbbing in my head. I despised it. The idea of her no longer being part of my life felt like a personal hell, a torment born from my own selfishness.

"I will not sign. Understand this, Mrs. Rowan. I will not fucking sign it." I charged toward her, kneeling on the bed to confront her directly.

Reese faded into the background, and all I could see were those cinnamon brown eyes that filled my vision.

In those frightened orbs, I caught a glimpse of my own reflection, flickering with fear and doubt.

There was nothing appealing about what I saw in her eyes. Yes, I was still the husband with the platinum blonde hair she used to love playing with during our cozy moments in bed. I was the man who made her swoon with his blue eyes, the one she flirted with when he dressed up for work, the one she surrendered to completely. Yet, despite that knowledge, the truth in her eyes was undeniable, as were the tremors in her body and the way she clung to her friend. She was just as afraid of me, perhaps even loathed me. And I hated seeing my ugly reflection in those beautiful eyes.

"For you to be free, you’d have to kill me and ensure I’m truly gone, because without that, there’s no escape for you." I ground out. My jaw clenched.

I burst out of our room, but the turmoil of emotions behind my eyes was undeniable.

On the porch, I saw Darius, with Ace, a member from his MC and his brother Dimitri with another officer standing behind them.

I’m not exactly skilled at begging for forgiveness, but punishment is meant for sinners, and if my sin is loving her the way I do, then she’s the one who gets to decide how I suffer for it too.

"Amir Rowan—"

"I can't deal with the formalities. You're here to arrest me, so just do it. I’m leaving." With that, I stepped out with the officer Dimitri had brought along.

As I exited, I asked Darius for a favor. "Keep her safe, and file a report against Willow for trespassing. If you can, look into her background."

He nodded, and I allowed the officer to place the cuffs on me.

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