Page 95 of Hard To Love

Her eyes went wide in surprise. “How can you talk to me like that? I know you feel something for me.”

He stared at her with a look of disgust. “You see, Megan, that’s where you’re mistaken. I don’t give a shit about you!”

“Chase, you have to let me explain…” She tearfully pleaded with him, she sounded so desperate and pathetic. I almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

“Explain what?” His voice was cold. “Explain how you tried to frame me and send my brother and me to jail? Is that how you treat the people you care about Megan?” He inched closer, which only caused her to take a step back. I could see the tears well up in her eyes.

“You and Colin were never going to jail. I heard you and Colin talking about how Brad still wanted Emily back. I knew that you would protect Colin at all costs. There was no way you would ever let him go down, especially with their baby on the way. I knew you would choose him over Emily, just like I knew Brad would want her away from you at all costs. If I thought there was the slightest chance that you would go to jail, I never would have called him in the first place.”

“Listen closely. I’m sick of hearing all this bullshit come out of your mouth. You were pissed when you found out I was back with Emily. If you couldn’t fucking have me then she couldn’t either, right?” He paused then continued. “You just got really fucking lucky when Brad decided to blackmail me into dropping the charges. So, don’t fucking act like this all played out like an elaborate plan that you crafted together. You were pissed off and wanted revenge, but once you saw that the tables could turn in your favor it made your fucking day. Am I right so far?”

I could see the confidence that she had worn on her smug face earlier, disappear. “She isn’t good enough for you. We were good together once; give me a chance to prove that we belong together.”

“I…belong…to…her!” He said pointing to me, in a staccato that hit each syllable hard.

“Now get the fuck out of here!” Completely destroyed, Megan dashed towards the door, uncontrollably sobbing.

Just as she was about to escape, Colin grabbed her arm. His anger surged hot and deep inside of him and he looked as if he might decide to strike her.

“Just so we’re clear, if you ever breathe a word of any of this to my wife, I will hunt you down and make it my life’s mission to make you pay for what you did to my family. Now you can march your sorry ass out of here, and never show your face in here again. You’re fired. I’ll have your shit boxed up and sent to your apartment.”

The tears streamed down her face, and I wasn’t sure if they were for him or if she was just upset that she got caught.“Colin, I’m sorry, I never meant to hurt you.”

Colin’s eyes hardened as they narrowed on her.“Get the fuck out, Megan.” He snapped, then his hands reached out and shoved her out the door. She stood there, all confidence gone from her features. In its place, was the look of a woman who was unhinged.

She turned around and glared at Chase. “She will never make you as happy as I could.”

Chase stood there silently shaking his head without responding. Because really, how do you rationalize with a crazy person?

The room went silent as we were all left standing there wondering what the hell just happened.Chase finally tore his gaze off the door then trained it on Brad.

“You’re being awfully quiet.”

Undeterred, Brad walked right up to Chase and proceeded to get up in his face. I knew some women were flattered when men fought over them, but I was not one of those people.

“Look, Newman. You don’t intimidate me and you sure as fuck aren’t good enough for her. You may not be the drug pusher that I thought you were, but you’re still a smug asshole who thinks he can get whatever he wants.”

Not backing down, Chase just held his position and grinned, taunting him with a sarcastic smile. I watched as Chase started to ball his fingers the same way as I did earlier.

“Game on,” he growled as he reached up from his side and landed a massive punch to Brad’s jaw.

Brad stumbled backwards a bit, rubbing the spot where Chase had just hit him. Instinctively, Brad went to counterpunch but Jack and Liam grabbed his arms. Nick and Colin held Chase back from striking again. I had seen enough and I felt like it was my turn to step inand take control of the situation before they killed each other.

I shoved my body between the restrained men.

“Stop it. Both of you. This ends now!”

I reached over and grabbed a tissue off of the desk and handed it to Brad to capture the bleeding. He snatched the tissue out of my hand then threw it on the floor as if he didn’t need it. I took that as a sign, that it was time to get down to business.

I cleared my throat and looked him directly in the eyes. “Brad, you really let me down. I can’t believe you intentionally tried to sabotage my relationship with Chase. And not only that…” I swallowed hard, “but you conspired with a woman who hates me and you let her manipulate you. I don’t know when you changed, but the man I once knew and loved would have never done something like this. The Brad I spent two years of my life with had morals and integrity. He was honest and trustworthy.”

I could tell my words wounded him more than the blow to his jaw.

He shook his head, and then pulled on the back of his neck.

“I can’t believe you played me.” As soon as he started walking towards me, I reached for Chase’s hand, lacing our fingers together. My throat went dry and my heart broke knowing how much I was hurting him.

I turned to everyone in the room and asked on a shaky breath, “Can you all give us some privacy, please?”

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