Page 10 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 2
"Yes," James said, cutting me off.
I let myself glance at him. He was staring at me so intently. I wanted to marry the man he was before last night. The man who loved me unconditionally, who trusted me. I wasn't sure if that man even existed. It felt like I didn't know him at all.
James turned to his brother. "That would be great if you helped Mason out. We'll be there before it starts."
"Okay, well, that's probably my cue. I'll leave you two alone to talk. And I'll see you both tonight." The way he said it made it seem like he had no doubt that what he said was true.
"Thanks," James said.
I kind of wished Rob was staying. It was like he sucked any last remaining joy out with him as he stepped onto the elevator. He gave me a small smile and a wave as the doors closed.
As soon as we were alone, James put his hand on my shoulder.
"You know that I didn't mean anything I said last night. Penny, you have to know that."
"Then why did you say it?"
"Because you hurt me. You betrayed my trust. I thought..."
"I didn't. You just weren't listening."
"You must understand how it looked."
"Of course I do. But I also expect you to believe me instead of your ex, James. Do you have any idea how that made me feel?"
"Probably the same way it made me feel when I thought you were running away with Tyler." He let go of my shoulder and ran his hand through his hair. "Can we please just move past this? Let's just forget last night ever happened."
"No, James. I want to talk about this. From the beginning."
"The beginning? There's nothing to talk about. We both just jumped to conclusions..."
"My conclusions were very meticulously planned by your psychopath of an ex-wife."
He sighed. "Psychopath? Penny, that's..."
"Stop, okay? Would you just listen to me for two seconds? You have no idea what that bitch put me through. Putusthrough. Just hear me out, okay?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "Okay. I'm listening." He sat down at one of the stools at the kitchen counter and stared up at me.
I finally had his undivided attention. I sat down too, leaving one stool in between us. He was going to listen to everything I had to say. He had to. "When you left for your bachelor party, Isabella started sending me stuff. Envelopes full of pictures of you and Rachel hugging and of you and Isabella kissing. There were notes about how you'd never love me as much as you loved Rachel and how your addiction problem is a sickness and you can't control yourself. She knew how to get in my head. She must have known you were away and that I couldn't talk to you. And I was fighting with Melissa. I just...I'd never felt so alone."
"Why didn't you tell me when I got back?" He moved to the stool that had separated us before. "Baby, I would have listened to you."
"Why? Because I could show you the evidence?"
He frowned. "Penny, I said I was sorry. I don't know what else you want me to say." He put his hand on my knee.
"Don't touch me." I knew I was being dramatic, but I needed us to talk. "Please don't touch me. Let me just finish what I have to say."
He removed his hand. His silence made it seem like he wanted me to keep going.
"She sent me a box full of notes that you wrote her. Love letters. All about how Isabella was the love of your life. And that you dreamed about marrying her your whole life. You talked about how no one understood you better than her. How much you missed her when you were apart, and how beautiful she was. You talked about being ready to have children with her. And that you thought she'd be a great mother. I read them all James."
I thought he might jump in here, but he just looked down at his hands, which were clasped together on his lap.
"Isabella left a note on the box about how your love is as fleeting as your addictions. And that you were just trying to escape your reality by being with me. Because you're addicted to me."
I waited again, wondering if he'd say anything about that. He continued to look down at his hands.
