Page 140 of Corrupt Me

“That doesn’t make it better.”

“I know, but if this works out, we’ll finally be free, and you’ll have a life to move past that.”

Embracing me from behind, my limbs go slack.

“Hold on to what you know in your heart,” she whispers.

“My heart is a scattered mess right now.”

“It will guide you if you just listen to it. Some truths are ingrained in us.”

I only know two truths: I love Bailey, and I’d die for my friends in a heartbeat. But I want her here with me. I can even accept this bloody engagement if she’s here. But no. That asshole knows what we have and just wants to end us. Fuck if he can.

I never wanted to kill someone with my bare hands—strangle them until the life drains from them—like I do him. I will fuck him up so good he will regret the day he thought he had a chance with my woman.

Thinking of Bailey, another punch of misery caves my chest in.

“She could have told me.” That’s what messes with my head the most.

“Bailey has the biggest heart. If you’re suffering, she’s even worse…”

And I can’t comfort her. In the beginning, I even doubted someone as pure as her could even exist. I expected it to be a ruse and that her mask would drop.

But that never happened. She’s genuinely good and self-sacrificing like that. And I am a selfish asshole who wants her all for myself.

“Everything is pointless without her.” I expel a breath choked full of the poison suffocating my insides.

Celine smiles understandingly at me as she drags me to the bed. I follow without resistance, the strength leaking out of my anxiety-ridden body.

Propped on our elbows, she says, “I think you’re fortunate.”

I snort, but she continues. “You’ve known everything from the start. That she loves you. That it’s all fake. Think of it as just another hurdle for you two—as a couple.”

Even if what she says sounds logical, it doesn’t make me feel any better. I am mad—so fucking mad that I’d want nothing more than to rip Eric’s limbs off, one by one, and stomp on them until he’s nothing but a bloody corpse.

“Promise me, you’ll behave during the engagement party. Please. Do it for her. Trust her.”

I trust her. I don’t trust that fucker.

“I’ll try.”

She kisses me on the cheek and leaves.

I barely have a moment of solitude to gather my thoughts before my phone rings. It’s Cassandra. I know what she wants even before she opens her mouth.

“Hunter, I’m aware this is difficult for you but do not take matters into your own hands. That is an order.”

While I would love to ignore her command, I can’t—bound by the rule to respect the matriarch’s demand.

I gnash my teeth. “Fine.” I’ll have to behave, even if I have to bleed myself dry to do that.

I hang up, the phone dropping from my hand, lifeless—just like me.

I hate these brutal shifts that always bring the biggest changes in your life. I survived my mother’s loss, and I overcame abuse. I will survive this fake pretend bullshit too.

Bailey is there. Even if not close to me, she’s in every heartbeat and every intake of air. I will fight for us. I’ll be there in the shadows, watching over her.

Memories of us flash before my eyes, a movie that ends on a cliffhanger. But they will help me sustain my faith until we can resume our love story.

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