Page 97 of The Truth of Our Secrets

“He loved me once,” I say as if it’s true. He never loved me. He loved controlling me.

“He’s a monster. Don’t forget that.” She nestles closer. “Will you come by the gallery and help me with Von? He needs to pack, but he’s basically catatonic.” Her voice breaks.

“Of course.” I’ll do anything to gain back her trust, including doing whatever it takes to help Alec and Von.

After she leaves, I pull out my phone.

Me: Meet me at Carmine’s Café in fifteen minutes

Peter: Fine.

He makes me wait. He’s punctual unless he wants to make a point and his point is that I’m not in control—he is. I’ll let him believe that.

Peter glides in as if he owns the place and tries to kiss my cheek, but I jerk my head away. His touch revolts me along with his scent. It’s acidic, smelling like he’s rotting from the inside out. It’s significantly worse now, but he never smelled good. A huge red flag I ignored for years.

“So are you ready to stop the divorce?” He’s so sure.

“No. We’re done.” I take satisfaction in his shock. He covers it quickly. “Stop going after the people I love.”

I’m confused by the grin that spreads over his face.

“Even if you drive a wedge between us, I’m not getting back together with you.” I brace myself for his response.

“You’ve always been so selfish. Everything is about you.” He folds his hands on the table.

“You’re the one who’s fucking up people’s lives and you call me selfish?” I sputter in disbelief.

“You brought this on. You brought the whore into our relationship and broke my trust.”

“It was your idea we find a woman to share and have a child with.” My voice gets louder and I take a deep breath. I don’t need someone recording our conversation so it ends up on a gossip site.

“If that’s what you have to tell yourself about your betrayal, then go ahead. You brought her into our bed against my wishes. I didn’t have a choice.”

“You always had a choice.” My jaw aches from clenching it.

He pushes his chair back. “You don’t care who you hurt. You want Madyson and now that child, Emmet. I feel sorry for them. I wonder, though, how much are they willing to put up with for you?” He laughs and stands.

I stay seated so I don’t punch him in the face and give him another weapon to use against me.

“It’s all so messy, isn’t it? You selfishly broke my heart and threw me away like garbage. They’ll do the same to you when you cause bad things to happen to them.” He smirks, looking down on me.

“I’m not doing anything.” My jaw pops.

“That’s a lie. I’m sure Page Seven would love to hear all the details of our marriage and your betrayal. Grooming a child to be your lover. How despicable.” He spins on his heel and walks out.

Fuck.

I made things worse.

Peter’s poisonous words invade my brain as I help Madyson pack up Von. Von’s a shell of a man and it’s a terrible reminder of how love can rip you apart.

I hate that Peter’s right. Once I met Madyson, I had to have her. But I talked to Peter and got his consent. Peter and I would’ve ended sooner had he said no.

Now I wish he’d told me no.

Iamselfish. Bringing Madyson into my relationship with Peter was a huge mistake. It subjected her to his meanness and verbal abuse. I didn’t stand up for her the way I should have. All of that leads to his vindictive attempts to get even with us.

He’ll probably go after Emmet next. I made the mistake of saying people I love, not person.

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