Page 76 of Hard to Resist

“No, I brought Verity something.”

Fuck.

Chloe’s eyes narrow, and she gets that suspicious look that makes her a mirror of our mother.

“What did you do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your face did that thing.”

“What thing?”

“That thing it does when something’s wrong.”

“Nothing’s wrong.”

“Really? You just forgot to tell me that Verity worked for Celine?”

“I only just found out—which you should know since I’m guessing Bridget told you and she was with me.”

Her lips press together, confirming my guess.

I’m surprised she didn’t show up sooner. I figured Bridget would’ve texted her the moment we left the event. But Chloe does have her own life now, and a thriving business alongside it. She’s busier than me these days, with her shop blowing up on social media.

“I’m not letting this go. Something’s off. You were all smiley the other day when I met her.”

Unfortunately, she’s still my nosy little sister at heart, even with her hectic schedule.

“Everything’s fine. Just a small hiccup.”

“Cullen, please don’t tell me she dumped you already.”

“A hiccup.”

“Oh my God. I was joking. Are you serious?”

Maybe her showing up is a good thing. Chloe might have some ideas. It’s not like I’m going to call up Rafe and ask for his advice.

“Yes, she broke up with me after Jace’s event.”

“Why? What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything. It was Celine.”

Chloe’s hackles raise, her mood souring.

Funnily enough, Chloe is the only person who never liked Celine. Even Rafe had liked her at the start. But Chloe? She’d always stuck her ground. Even in the beginning, when things were good, she’d given Celine the cold shoulder.

“Why does that woman ruin everything she touches?”

“Her profile piece inThe Alternatesays otherwise.”

The article went live this morning with images from Saturday’s event, applauding Celine yet again for the upward trajectory of her business and the innovation she instills in the design space.

“Seriously, what happened?”

“Verity found out that Celine and I were married, and she freaked out. She called it off right there; said if Celine found out, she’d be fired.”

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