Page 38 of On The Rocks

I’d been married for one brief hour; what the actual fuck?

Furiously, I tried to strengthen the walls around my heart. Fuck Callum O’Shea. It wasn’t too late; I could still walk away. We hadn’t slept together, so I could get an annulment, especially when I explained to the judge how he’d duped me. My heart ached at the thought of losing the dream of Wyoming and of finally finding peace, but peace would never come to me while my husband was fucking other women.

It would be more like torture.

Still, I also knew I couldn’t stay in New York. My humiliation was complete, and I’d never hear the end of my one-day wedding and the fact my groom only married me to please his mother.

That decided it for me. Staying here was out of the question; it was time to stand on my own two feet and take control of my life. Screw Callum O’Shea. I was a smart, accomplished woman and an expert in my field, with a decent career and amazing contacts. It wasn’t like I had no options open to me. Just putting my name on a project gave it instant credibility, so why the hell was I fretting over him? Patrick was releasing me to my marriage, and when my so-called husband let me go, I’d finally be free.

If the bastard wanted a marriage in name only, that was exactly what he’d get.

Grabbing my cell from my bag, I fired off an email to the Heritage Society. They’d already contacted me about heading up a dig next year in England. If everything worked out, I couldbe away by the summer. In the meantime, a few months in Wyoming could be exactly what I needed.

I got out of the car, suddenly eager to get inside and organize my bags. I wanted to get on the plane so I could pick up my return emails as soon as we landed. Entering the house, my steps faltered as shouts filtered into the large reception from Patrick’s study down the hall.

Usually, my adoptive dad yelling at his wife would be anxiety-inducing because I knew she’d take it out on me, but at that moment, it didn’t faze me one bit. If anything, I was grateful for the opportunity to creep up to my room without getting waylaid.

Plus, she deserved it after what she did.

I just hoped he’d rip Shannon and Erin new assholes, too.

Silently, I moved up the stairs, my mouth curving at the fading shouts coming from the study. I hurried down the hall, my steps slowing as I suddenly picked up two other voices, except these ones were hushed and coming from my room.

“I can’t believe you haven’t told her about us,” Shannon hissed.

“There’s no us to tell her about,” Callum replied in a hushed tone. “It was one night. Hardly the love affair of the century.”

My smile froze, and an icy chill ran over my skin, making me shiver.

“I’m sure Maeve wouldn’t see it that way, Callum. Technically, your cock may not have been in my pussy, but you were more than happy to stick it in my mouth.”

My body flinched like I’d been struck. I raised my hand, pressing it against the wall to steady myself.

“Look,” Callum replied in a bored tone. “I was drunk. Jesus, I hardly remember. It wasn’t our finest moment.”

“No, and I’m sure Maeve would agree,” Shannon retorted cuttingly.

“It was way before Maeve,” he argued. “So don’t make out like I’ve done you wrong. You knew it was casual.”

“Yeah, I knew. I also should’ve known you were just like all the others,” Shannon bit out. “I can’t fucking stand Maeve, but even she doesn’t deserve to be married to an asshole like you, who keeps this from her.”

Bile rose through my stomach.

As much as I hated to admit it, she was right.

Callum barked a brittle laugh. “Don’t try and tell me you’re looking out for Maeve. You’re doing this to hurt her, no other reason. Call it what it is... spiteful.”

My lip curled.

Yep.

“I am,” she admitted. “But she shouldn’t be in the dark about this. The fact it will wreck your poor excuse of a marriage is a bonus.”

My heart jerked painfully.

Shannon had never pretended to like me, quite the opposite, in fact, but it wasn’t until then that I understood how deep her venom ran. It wrecked me because I’d never done anything to deserve it except merely exist.

“Jesus,” Callum breathed. “Who are you? What happened to make you so fucking vile? It’s funny because, ten minutes ago, I was telling Maeve to grow a backbone and be more like you. Now, I couldn’t think of anything worse. I got the message; I’ll tell Maeve about our one night where I was so drunk that whatever happened is just a damned blur. You win; I’ll tell her everything, but it won’t change anything, and you won’t wreck my marriage.”

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