Page 125 of King of Envy

For the umpteenth time, I debated telling her about my arrangement with Jordan. Given what happened, he probably wouldn’t be upset about me breaking our “tell no one” rule if and when he woke up.

Even so, I couldn’t place that burden on her. If I said it was to help a friend, she’d say no true friend would put me in such an uncomfortable position. If I said it was for money, she’d ask what I needed the money for. I already made a comfortable living as a model, and shopping habits aside, I wasn’t that materialistic.

But if I told her I wanted to leave Beaumont, that’d lead to more questions until she eventually found out how much they mistreated me. I’d successfully pretended I was living the glam life in New York because on the surface, I was, and I didn’t see my family in person often enough for them to notice the cracks. If she discovered how unhappy I was, that would crush her. She worried enough about me living in the city on my own.

Most of all, I didn’t want my family to know I’d rushed into the Beaumont contract for them. They’d never forgive themselves.

“More complicated than your relationship with Vuk?” my mother asked shrewdly, bringing my attention back to the present.

I let out a rueful laugh. “I don’t know. They’re pretty close on the complication meter.” I shredded my injera into little doughy strips. I loved my father’s cooking, but I wasn’t hungry anymore. “If you suspected I didn’t love Jordan, why didn’t you say anything?”

She was quiet for several beats. “I should’ve,” she finally said. “But I think I didn’t want it to be true. On paper, Jordan is agoodmatch for you. He’s kind, successful, and wealthy. You were already friends, and he could give you a good life. He’s every mother’s dream son-in-law, and I desperately wanted to believe you were happy with him. I told myself I was overthinking things. That was my fault.”

“It wasn’t,” I said. “Even if you’d said something, I probably would’ve gone ahead with the wedding. Like I said, my reasons for marrying him are…”

“Complicated?”

I nodded.

“Are you in trouble?”

“No,” I hedged. “Not really.” If I stayed with Beaumont, I wouldn’t be in trouble, per se. Not the way she meant it.

“Will you tell me what those complications are?”

“I can’t, but I have everything under control.” Sort of. Not really. But she didn’t need to know that. “Let’s talk about something else, okay?”

“Alright, alright.” My mother tsked. “I can tell when I’ve reached my limits. But if youdofind yourself in trouble, you must tell me. We’re your family. That’s what we’re here for.”

“I know, Mom. I will.”

If I weren’t grappling with last week’s traumatic events, she never would’ve let me off the hook so easily. Once my mother sniffed out problems in her children’s lives, she was like a dog with a bone.

Unfortunately, she segued straight from Jordan into another uncomfortable topic. “Back to Vuk. That man jumped in front of a bullet for you,” she said a little too casually. “It was quite a save.”

“Hmm.” I chewed a mouthful of vegetables so I wouldn't have to reply.

“I googled him,” she said. “He has a very impressive background. It seems like he’s single too.”

My cheeks flamed. I swallowed and said, “Mother, please.” I pointed to the diamond still on my finger. “Love or not, I’m still engaged. Remember?”

“I didn’t say you weren’t.” My mother was the picture of innocence. “All I’m saying is, when Jordan wakes up—and hewillwake up; I feel it in my gut—you can sort out your…complications. After that, who knows?” She took a demure sip of water. “The world is your oyster.”

I winced. “Please don’t ever say something like that again. It’s super cringe and cliché.”

She laughed. “As a parent, you get used to being cringe.” Her eyes slid past me. They lit with a twinkle of mischief. “Speak of the devil. Here he comes.”

I whirled around. Vuk entered, his imposing presence sucking up all the oxygen in the air. Sean followed on his heels, dressed in a similar T-shirt and jeans as his boss. Several diners stopped eating to stare at them as they made their way over to me.

I’d invited Vuk to check out the restaurant, but I hadn’t expected him to come. And that skip in my heart when I saw him? Totally normal.

His mouth tipped up when our eyes met.

My lips curved in return before I remembered my mother was watching. I turned back to find a knowing smile on her face.

I pointedly ignored it and took another bite of salad, my heart still fluttering.

Totally. Normal.

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