Chapter 4
It was late, but Winona lay wide awake.!!
Her mouth was parched. She slipped out of the bedroom in search of a glass of water. As she passed Tyson’s room, she noticed his door ajat a sliver of amber light spilling into the dark hallway.–2
Last night, after overhearing that phone call, she’d claimed she was unwell and moved to the quest room.
Now, faint noises drifted from Tyson’s room–whispered, intimate.
Then Tyson’s breathless voice broke the hush “Celia, stop. This is my house.”
“What, are you afraid she’ll hear us?” Celia’s tone was teasing, sultry. “Ty, what are you so scared of? We’re the ones who are legally married.””
“Celial Tyson’s voice snapped, suddenly stem. “What happened between us is over.”
“Ty-
“If it weren’t for helping you escaping that monster of an ex–husband, I never would have married you. Nona’s been with me for five years She’s my girlfriend–she’ll be my real wife someday. Once your situation is sorted, we’ll-
He stopped. The room filled again with muffled, unmistakable sounds.
Vinona snapped back to herself, realizing her hands were shaking uncontrollably.
A bitter, mocking smile flickered in her eyes.
Tyson, a man nearly six foot three, and yet he wanted her to believe Celia could force herself on him if he didn’t want it? That marrying Celia was the only way to help her escape her ex? What a joke.
They were just making excuses for their affair. Dressing it up to look righteous.}|
“Ty, don’t you miss what we had? The happiness I gave you–Winona could never compare
“Celia Tyson’s voice was hoarse, thick with desire.
The noises inside grew louder, more desperate.
Winona caught the whole sordid conversation on her phone. Her stomach roiled. She stumbled to the bathroom, clutching the sink, ratching until her throat bumed
Disgusting. Pathetic.
When she finally left the bathroom, her phone buzzed: a message from a client. There was a problem with the project–she’d have to fix it tonight.
Exhausted, she forced herself to sit at her desk and open her laptop.
Her mind wandered. Back then, when Tyson ran for student body president, she’d campaigned day and night for him, smiling until her cheeks hurt, doing everything she could to help him win. Later, when he was elected, she ran errands big and small for him
After graduation, she joined his company. She poured her heart and soul into his work.!!
A dull ache twisted in her stomach, yanking her back to the present.
This would be the last time.X
And it wasn’t even for him–just for herself and her team, for the months of effort they’d put in.
Five years of devotion. The agony of that car accident two years ago, the leg she’d lost, her dreams of dancing–all replayed in her mind, merging with the echo of those two cheating in the next room.
She would get to the bottom of this. And when she did, they’d pay for what they’d done.
Dawn.
When Winona finally emerged from her room, the smell of breakfast drifted through the house.
She turned to see Tyson in the kitchen, frying eggs. A pot simmered nearby. Celia lingered at the doorway, smiling at him.8
“Ty, after all these years, your breakfast is still my favorite, Celia cooed
“Go on, sit down. I’ll bring it over.
Tyson glanced back at Celia as he spoke, but his gaze accidentally met Winona’s
“Nona.” His voice was gentle–just like every other ordinary morning. “Morning”
Winona’s lips twisted in a bitter self–mocking smile!!
Chapter 4
Three years together and he’d never cooked for her. Not once. Even when she drank herself sick to win him a contract, he never made her
a single bowl of soup. He’d just call someone to deliver food!
She used to think he simply wasn’t the domestic type.
Turns out, she just wasn’t the one worth the effort.
