Page 178 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“Pardon?”

Matt shook his head. “Nothing. Look, sorry about this morning. I forgot about meeting up with you and Dad. How is he?”

“Brassed off you failed to show.” Adam advised succinctly. “And worried about you, as are Mum and Hannah. Come on, Matt. It’s mid-September now and you still haven’t explained what the hell happened between you and Madison. Mum is terrified you’re going to do something silly. Hannah has been pestering me,constantlylet me add, about your well-being; and don’t even get me started on Grumps.”

Matt grimaced while avoiding Adam’s increasingly irritated glances.

“I’m right fed up off it,” he continued. “I’m your brother not your damned keeper.”

Rubbing a hand over his face, Matt did feel a touch of guilt. He knew his family were all concerned about him, he also knew Adam would bear the brunt of their questions due to his unwillingness to explain why he and Madi were separated. His relationship with his older brother was a close one, and everyone would automatically assume Adam was in the know. With a heavy sigh, Matt pulled out one of the stools by the centre island and sat down.

“She cheated on me, Adam,” he said, voice hoarse with anger and shame. It pained him to admit her infidelity out loud. “She cheated on me and I’m such a fucking, pathetic twat that I spent the last 24 hours in bed with her even though she’s a lying, deceitful little witch.” The silence that followed his words was deafening. Matt looked over to his brother’s shocked face. “Say something.”

Adam swallowed and ran both hands through his hair. “I –are you - she isn’t-” he cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “Are you sure? I mean, she’s absolutely smitten with you and Madi doesn’t strike me as the type to-”

“Fuck off.” Matt exploded. “Am I bloody sure? Of course, I am.”

“Alright, calm down,” Adam rushed to say. “Bloody hell, I’m justshocked is all.”

Matt glowered at him before pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. His tone was low as he said, “I’m sure. I wish I wasn’t, but I am.”

Adam chewed his lower lip, his greyish-blue eyes filled with sympathy. “How did you find out? Did she tell you?”

Matt let out a harsh laugh. “No, and she continues to deny it even though I have proof.” Another bitter chuckle left his lips. “That’s the worse bit, the lying. She just won’t admit it and it’s driving me mad.”

Making his way over to the centre island, Adam propped his elbows over the surface, confusion leaked into his sympathetic expression. “Well if she didn’t admit it, how do you know for certain?”

Matt sent him another scowl.

“Seriously, Matt,” Adam pressed on. “This doesn’t sound like something she would do. Did you catch them together? Do you know who this man is? What proof are you talking about?”

“Photos,” Matt confessed, sick to his stomach as he remembered the glossy prints. “All verified, and why the hell are you defending her?”

Adam himself looked ill at the mention of photos, but he forged on. “I’m not defending anyone! I’m just trying to understand-”

“There’s nothing to understand,” Matt was beginning to regret confiding in his brother. “She fucked someone else and made a fool of me, Adam.”

“Where did you get these photos? How were they taken? Goddamn it. Can they be leaked to the media?” Adam seemed flustered, and rightly so, at the possibility of the press finding the photos.

Matt shook his head. “They print outs are safe, I took the pictures from Louisa’s mob-”

“Wait, what?” Adam cut him off sharply. He straightened up and folded his arms across his chest. “Louisa? Louisa Gilliford? Fuck sakes, Matt. She’s yourexand completely obsessed with you. Don’t tell me you believedher? That’s bollocks. And youknowshe’s not fond of Madi. Are you having a laugh? Louisa would do anything to break up your marriage.”

The stool screeched across the tiled floor as Matt stood up, face tight with anger. “I’m not that much of an idiot, Adam. Do you think I hadn’t considered it was some devious ploy of hers to split me andMadi up? Did you not just hear me say I had the pictures verified?”

“By whom?” Adam shot back.

Matt couldn’t believe it. His own brother didn’t want to accept Madi’s infidelity. “My P.I, the same one you use.”

It was similar to the way air escapes a balloon, Adam’s whole body slumped down and his face fell in dismay.

“Damn it,” he muttered. “James never gets it wrong. Damn it, Matty. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. How did Louisa get the pictures? Do you know who the chap is?” Adam asked suddenly as if holding on to the last thread of hope it was all a mistake.

Matt rubbed his temples in exasperation. “She caught them together at some function while we were on that business trip to Egypt, said she couldn’t get a glimpse of the bastard’s face,” he swallowed hard. “The pictures were – let’s just say they left no doubt in my mind. Louisa was distraught at having to bring me the news.”

Adam remained silent.

“I keep thinking,” Matt continued. “Wondering how long it’d been going on for. Or whether she cheated with more than one men. God. If I ever find out who he is, I swear I’ll be detained at Her Majesty’s pleasure because I’ll certainly kill him. In fact, I don’t evenwantto try and find out. It might be difficult but I’m certain I could - but knowing some smarmy bastard is probably laughing over - fuck.”

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