Page 66 of The Rejected Wife

“For the record, I prefer you calling me Cilla,” I murmur.

“AndIprefer calling you Cilla.” He flashes me a smile which lights up his face and makes his eyes gleam. For a few seconds, he resembles the rake I thought he was when I met him on the tube. Then, he grows serious. "Arthur gave me an ultimatum yesterday."

"Oh?" The hair on the back of my neck rises. Something in his tone jangles my nerves. Call it a sixth sense, but instinct tells me I don’t want to hear this.

I glance around the kitchen. "Do you want a biscuit? It’s not home baked. But it’s my favorite, Jammie Dodgers. Those are my weakness and?—"

"He wants me to get married."

My heart drops to my feet. My stomach heaves, and I can taste bile on my tongue. Specks of black spot my vision, and I feel like I’m going to faint. I look around wildly. I need to run out of here, before I do something stupid. Like vomit all over him. Or worse, faint like a character from a regency era romance.Get control of your emotions. Now.I curl my fingers into fists and take a deep breath, then another.

It’s not a surprise that Arthur gave him that ultimatum. After all, itwasArthur and my brother who came up with the plan for me to marry Knox. Subconsciously, I expected that Tyler might come under the same pressure. But I didn’t expect it to be so soon. I manage to bring my attention back to him.

"Arthur…wants you to get married?" I manage to croak.

"It’s a condition for me to inherit my portion of the Davenport fortune."

"Oh." My heart boomerangs up to my chest, then past it, to lodge in my throat.

He has to marry to consolidate his inheritance?Of course, he does.Marriages are important when you come from money. It’s how families like mine traditionally kept control over their wealth.

But why is he telling me this? Is it because he’s going to marry someone else? OMG, no! He can't be. I can't stay here and see him with someone else. Which means, I’ll have to leave. But I don’t want to be away from Serene. I’ve bonded with the little girl more than any nanny should. I’m aware of that, but I haven’t been able to stop myself. So, what am I going to do?

I can't go through losing him again, even though I haven't actually gotten him back—but I was hoping we might get there in time. Omigod, omigod, omigod, I'm going to lose Serene! I'm going to lose my job. And just as things were getting back on track.

Sweat pools in my armpits. My heart races like the flapping wings of a butterfly in my chest.Deep breaths. Don’t hyperventilate.

"Wh-What"—I swallow—"are you going to do?" My voice is barely above a whisper. I can't seem to take in enough breath.

He taps his finger on the table. "I can’t say no to Arthur. I want to make sure Serene gets her legacy."

I nod; I can't speak. I take another sip of my tea to soothe the stinging sensation that’s formed in my throat, but it doesn’t help. I set down my cup and clutch my fingers together in my lap. I can do this.Let it hurt. Then let it go.

"Do you… Do you have someone in mind?" As soon as the words are out, I curse myself. What do I care who he’s going to marry? Whoever it is, she'll probably be a spoiled society princess. Someone like I might have turned out to be, had I not chosen not to. Someone who’ll be happy to hand over childcare duties to me. That’s the best-case scenario because the thought of being separated from TylerandSerene is unimaginable. I want to say something more but can’t seem to form the words.

"I do." He looks straight into my eyes. "It’s someone I've had on my mind for a while. Someone I have amazing chemistry with. Someone who is gorgeous inside and out. Someone, who not only has the most incredible curves, but also a beautiful soul. Someone who is kind and generous, and also quirky, and never fails to liven up the atmosphere when she walks into a room. Someone I trust. Someone who I know will take good care of Serene."

My heart bounces back into my throat, and if he says one more word, I'm afraid I'll lose it.So, he does have a woman in his life?I didn’t think he did. I haven’t seen any woman coming around, so I just assumed he was single. Given how hands-on he likes to be with Serene, I assumed there was no other woman in his life. But I never asked him. Was I wrong? And he trusts her with Serene? But I've never seen anyone else interacting with Serene. This can't be happening. Is this his way of letting me down gently? Telling me I’m out of a job? I feel like someone is choking me.

"So… You have a g-girlfriend?" I say through lips that feel numb. He certainly played the role of harassed father who had no time for anything or anyone else so well that I believed him. But all along, he’s been dating someone else?That cad.Anger begins a slow boil in my tummy.

"This woman is…the only other person who plays an important part in my life, other than Serene. In fact, I went ahead and got a ring for her." He pulls a velvet box from his pocket and places it on the table between us.

"B-but I haven't seen anyone else around here…" I say through gritted teeth. The anger boils up, spreading to my extremities. My entire body trembles with suppressed rage while disappointment is like an anchor embedded in my chest.

I look around the space again. Can I make an excuse and get out of here? Too bad, we’re in my apartment, otherwise, I’d have left already. And the place is owned by him, so I can’t ask him to leave. Oh, my God. This is crazy. I can’t sit here and listen to him spout praise for some other woman, can I? As for that…box? I can’t bear to look at it. I can’t.

"Uh… I… I think I need another cup of tea." Maybe something stronger? But I only have wine. I need…a shot of tequila, or perhaps, vodka? Yes, vodka, neat. But I can’t really pour liquor and toss it back in front of the person who is, for all purposes, my employer and who’s child I’m responsible for. I settle for: "Actually, I… I'm out of sugar. I need to run out of get some."

I jump up and try to inch away, when he growls, "Sit down." Then, he shakes his head. "Damn, I’m not doing a good job of this.” He draws in a deep breath and seems to get himself under control. “Please?" He urges me in a much softer voice.

I sit down. And not only because he said the P-word. That dominance in his tone…does funny things to my insides. I can’t refuse him. Even though, this is the last place I want to be.

He pulls the ring from the box and holds it up. The light coming in through the window bounces off the golden-brown gemstone with a silky glow that shifts across the surface. The stone is oval cut and placed in a six-pronged setting, with the band itself made of rose-gold.

"It’s beautiful." I’m unable to take my gaze off of it.It’s not mine. It’s not for me.Yet… It’s so gorgeous. So special. I feel like it’s calling to me.

"It belonged to my grandmother."

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