Page 108 of Lust & Lies
But now, I saw shadows behind those gestures. Threads of manipulation dressed up as affection. His mask was cracking right before my eyes, and I wasn’t ready to meet the monster hiding behind that beautiful smile.
He returned to the tub and knelt beside it again. I held his gaze, refusing to look away even though staring into those dark eyes was hard right now.
“I’ll be back soon,” he whispered.
I said nothing. I just sat there while my heart slowly built walls around itself. A defense system to protect itself from the dangers lurking nearby. He lingered for a moment, maybe waiting for me to say something.
Maybe hoping I’d ask him to stay. I wanted to. Lord knows I wanted to. The words were on the tip of my tongue. But they tasted bitter. So, I swallowed them down and remained silent. The sadness that filtered into his gaze damn near broke my resolve and crumbled the wall I was building.
Finally, he pressed a kiss to my temple and left the room, the soft click of the door behind him sounding more final than it should have. Was that the sound of our relationship ending? Was this the last sweet moment we’d share?
I let my body sink deeper into the tub until the water caressed my chin. My gaze lingered on the door, half-expecting it to open again. Half expecting Aiden to rush back in and demand I tell him what was wrong with me.
When he didn’t, I leaned my head back against the tub and stared up at the ceiling. I’d once dreamed of this life, this house, this man, this peace. Now that I had it, I felt like a princess locked in a golden cage.
And Aiden was the dragon guarding me. Always there. Always watching. Always controlling the world around me while telling me I was free, I was safe, I was loved. But there was a plot twist to this story he’d woven for us.
Turns out, the one protecting me was the greatest threat to me. Only a fool would stay in a situation like this. Though I was in love, I wasn’t a fool. Neither was I some damsel in distress who needed saving.
I’d allowed myself to do things Aiden’s way. I hadn’t pressured him about getting me a new cell phone. I hadn’t asked about my family again or anything like that. I hadn’t tried searching my name online to see what I found.
I hadn’t even asked to use his computer yet. In the hospital, those questions had plagued me. Yet, once I was in my beautiful cage, I’d gotten comfortable, too comfortable, and was reluctantly willing to wait for the memories to return.
Not anymore.
Tonight, I’d bathe and go to bed. I’d pretend I was okay just so I could get through the night. Tomorrow, though... tomorrow I’d have that conversation we’d been avoiding. And if he couldn’tanswer my questions, really answer them, then I’d find a way to leave this house.
I’d find the truth on my own even if it meant leaving my husband. I’d rather break my own heart than have a man break it for the second time. And when my memories returned, I prayed there was a misunderstanding between me and Aiden.
I prayed he hadn’t really done those things Past-Me believed he’d done. Because if he had... I sighed as that dark feeling wrapped around me again. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, and I'd make you hurt the same way you hurt me.
Please, Lord, let it be a misunderstanding, or I’ll have to send this man to you.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
AIDEN
I RUBBED A HAND THROUGHmy hair for the tenth damn time in five minutes, then dug my fingers into my scalp, hoping the pain might somehow squeeze the frustration out of me. It didn’t. The tension was still there, would be there until I figured this shit out.
Seated at my desk, I glared at my computer screen, jaw tight, eyes locked on the face of my older brother. I hated how calm he looked. Hated that he got to relax in his fucking office, drinking imported whiskey while watching my world burn from a distance.
As for me, I was about to lose my damn mind while doing everything I could to keep my world from collapsing. Because that’s precisely what was happening right now. The walls were starting to close in on me.
Everything outside this little slice of heaven at my country estate was going to hell. But inside? Inside, I finally had her heart again. Noe was mine again. She smiled when she saw me now. Reached for me. Kissed me first sometimes.
She fell asleep on my chest, and I was finally able to hold her through the night, listening to her breathing, thanking God for this second chance. She’d fallen in love with me again. And now this shit! I slammed my fist down on the desk, rattling the keyboard.
Tristan raised an eyebrow and muttered, “Getting angry and beating your desk isn’t going to solve anything. I told you this would...”
“Shut the fuck up, Tristan,” I growled.
Shaking his head, he took a sip of his whiskey while I tried to wrap my head around what was going on. I’d had the perfect day with Noe. But that call during dinner ruined my entire night. However, the call was necessary.
One of my guys reported that a few of Seo-Jin’s men had been spotted at a store just twenty minutes from here. A small country market with only four parking spaces and one cashier who ran the whole place.
That cashier was on my payroll. That store belonged to me. I’d purchased it so Noe could sell her produce there. I’d purchased one even closer, also. Neither store was bought in either of our names, so how the hell had they found out about them?
“They’re getting closer,” Tristan drawled. “Them showing up at that store wasn’t a coincidence or an accident. It was on purpose.”
