Page 7 of Shattered Dreams
The words sound forced.
"Right," I agree, feeling relieved. Kieron is undeniably hot, but he's my best friend. I just don't see him like that.
He shifts beside me, jaw tightening. "What else did Muller say?"
I hesitate again. "That...he wanted to take me out."
Kieron stiffens, his mouth flattening into a thin line. "Right." His voice clips now, irritation threading through the syllable.
"It's nothing," I murmur, even though it doesn't feel like nothing.
Not anymore.
"Yeah," Kieron mutters, but it sounds more like a warning than agreement. "Stay away from him, Ava."
I nod.
But in the back of my mind, Roman's words replay, sticky and impossible to shake.
Then let me change the ending, Ava.
3
AVA
NOW
What the actualfuckdid he just say?
A laugh escapes my lips as I retract my hands from his, eyes narrowing with disbelief.
Surely this is a joke?
We haven't been getting on as well as we used to, but surely... My vision blurs at the edges, reality slipping through my fingers. My stomach plummets while nausea crawls up my throat, my heart turning to stone.
He wouldn't.
"I hope you're fucking kidding." My voice sounds hollow and cold, like it's coming from someone else entirely. My lips crack with dryness, knees trembling when he closes his eyes, his mouth set in a firm line. I stare at his strong jaw, the dark curls falling into his collar. The curls I'd run my hands through only last week when we'd made love.
"I'm so sorry."
The pathetic words hit me like a slap, and I blink, hot tears spilling down my cheeks, hands trembling.
"Who? Do you even know her name?" I whisper, my palm itching to connect with his face.
He looks at me in surprise, as though I've insulted him. "It's just a girl?—"
"Justagirl? Or a woman?" I interrupt, air rushing from my nose. My focus blurs as I try to see him through my tears.
How am I supposed toseewhen my fuckinghusbandhasbetrayedme? My soul burns as his words replay on an endless loop.
He winces, dropping his head in his hands.
"Baby—"
"Don't youdarecall me that," I hiss, wanting to stand but not trusting my legs. Questions swarm my mind, and my stomach heaves.
"She's sold her story to the media," he admits, and I shake my head in astonishment. “And sent photos of us…together.”
