Page 49 of Her Possessive Dominant Fake Husband

She flinched, the words hitting harder than I intended. “You think you can just come here and—”

“I think,” I said, stepping closer, the heat between us sparking back to life – not that it ever stopped for me, “that you don’t understand what you’re giving up.”

Her laugh was harsh. “I understand perfectly.”

“Do you?” I asked.

“I understand that you’re trying to control everything, Alexander.” The way she said my name—again, with all that anger, all that need—left me wanting her more than ever before.

“That’s not—” I said, then stopped, swallowed, and tried again. “I’m trying to help you.”

She shook her head, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. “No, you’re trying to help yourself.”

That accusation struck deep, too deep, right to the heart of me. “Is that what you really think?” I asked, softer now, but still charged, still refusing to back down. This battle was worth fighting and dying for.

Her eyes locked onto mine, a silent, searing battle. But before she could answer, before I could finally get through to her, Jen reappeared, breezing back into the room with a casual arrogance that made me clench my teeth.

“Changed my mind,” she said, smiling too brightly. “We’re all going out.”

For a moment, I thought Claire might slap her. That alone would be enough for me to double what I’d paid her, and then some. But Claire was silent, fury radiating from her. It matched my own.

“Jen,” I said. “We’re busy.”

She didn’t care. Or she didn’t notice. “Too busy for food? Never.”

“Jen,” Claire said again, more forcefully, but Jen only grinned, mistaking the heat in the room for something else.

“Don’t be mad,” she teased, winking. “I know you two need some alone time. I’ll just—”

“Leave!” Claire said, her voice breaking with fury. “Justleave, Jen!”

The outburst shocked all of us. Claire was breathing hard, her fists clenched, her body a live wire of anger and pain.

Jen’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Wow,” she said, dragging the word out with dramatic flair. “No need to get all emotional.”

Claire turned away, like she couldn’t stand to see her sister for another second, couldn’t stand any of it. “Just go,” she said, softer now, but with a finality that left no room for argument.

Jen looked at me, her expression almost amused. “Good luck with that one,” she said, jerking her head toward Claire. “Come to me when you want a good woman.”

I was beginning to think she didn’t know the meaning of the words.

Then she flounced out, leaving a void as big as her ego in the room. Claire pulled me inside and closed and locked the door behind me.

We stood there, the silence between us hotter than the fight with Jen had been. Claire wouldn’t look at me. I couldn’t look away from her.

“Why?” I asked at last. I needed to know, I couldn’t keep the question bottled up anymore.

She didn’t answer.

But the silence was enough.

It told me everything, and nothing, and more than I could handle.

And when she spoke, I felt the crush of defeat. “Please don’t come back, Alexander.”

I finally, knew I had failed. Knew I might not have another chance. And as I stood there, shellshocked, I didn’t see her struggling with the same overwhelming emotions that had just wrecked me. I didn’t see her anger breaking, didn’t see her softening.

All I knew was I’d pushed her too far, and she had let me go.

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