Page 53 of The Revenge Plan

But when I saw her sleeping soundly on the couch, all my weapons shuttered to nothing. She looked so angelic and slept so soundly; I dared not wake her up. She brought out a side in me I hadn’t had for so long, at least not since Liam died. A fierce will to protect another human being. I hated feeling for someone like her. After the revelations I had learned today, she was only becoming more and more of an enigma. I was becoming less and less sure as to what to do with her. She stirred and opened her eyes. I straightened. I felt like she had caught me staring at her, and in a way I had been.

“Hi,” her voice was groggy and sexy. It made me want to forget everything I knew about her and simply be with her.

“You slept on the couch.”

“You said you were going to come back earlier.”

I wasn’t sure if I had promised exactly that, but I could see how she would think so. I had intentions of seeing her earlier, but then something else happened. I took a seat next to her. She made space for me by getting up and into a sitting position.

“If I ask you something, will you be truthful?”

She tilted her head to the side, “where’s this coming from?”

“Would you?”

“Depends on the question?”

Okay. I wasn’t expecting such honesty in not revealing the truth.

“Did you give your family any other information than the mock-up book?”

“No. That was all I gave him.”

“I’ll not punish you if you did.”

“I’m telling the truth. Anyway, wouldn’t you know if I did?”

“You didn’t send him any other sketches?”

“No!” she straightened her back.

“Funny, because Lyndell’s launching a new collection that looks exactly like KMVH’s.”

Her brow furrowed, “I thought you said those sketches were fake?”

“They were, but someone leaked the real ones to them.”

“It’s not me!” She slid forward and took hold of my hand, “You have to understand that I’m telling you the truth. What can I do to convince you?” Her lies sounded so honest and convincing, I wanted to believe them. It was clear I would get nothing out of her. I tried another tactic.

“I have another question,” I said, “Would you tell me the truth if I asked where you were living before we got married?”

Her eyes widened at the question. “It seems you already know the answer to that question.”

“Why where are you living there?”

She shrugged, “I didn’t have any money.”

“Do you expect me to believe that?”

“Seems like whatever I say you don’t trust, so why bother.”

“Were you cut-off?”

“Not exactly.”

“I’m listening.”

“I didn’t want anything to do with their money. I wanted to get out on my own.”

---