My Cheating Boyfriend Thought I Was Obedient—So I Married Someone Else Chapter 05

I knew it wasn’t love. Not really. People like Kael Voss don’t know how to love anyone.

So I let myself indulge. And I forgave him everything. But I still searched the cracks for evidence. I tried to prove that somewhere, for a few seconds, his heart had beat in rhythm with mine.

A few days before. The end of a long, intense night. My mind was hazy with exhaustion when I felt heat.

I snapped awake and shoved against his chest. “You didn’t—”

Kael pinched my earlobe and played dumb. “Forgot. If you get pregnant, have the baby. You think I can’t afford it?”

For a split second, something soft flickered in his eyes. Like he actually imagined a future.

“How could I—” I pushed him off and scrambled for the pills.

How could I have a baby? We were never built to last. What would a child even be?

Kael’s face darkened. Like he was determined to fight me on this. He grabbed my wrist and tore the pills from my hand. Flushed every single one down the toilet.

“Elara. If I find out you’ve been taking pills behind my back, you’re done.”

My heart stuttered. For one breath, I almost believed it.

Then clarity hit. Ice cold.

I dodged Kael and took the pills anyway.

I woke from the dream into dead silence. Kael hadn’t come back.

My phone buzzed against the nightstand. I picked up.

My mom again. Same old script. “Every time I think about you, I can’t sleep—”

She knew nothing about Kael and me. In her eyes, I was already pushing past the age where anyone would want to marry me.

“If you don’t start looking now, you won’t even have a good spot in a few years.”

“My friend Linda’s son is in Manhattan. Just meet him once. It’s not like it’ll cost you an arm and a leg—”

Back in high school, she was terrified I’d date. She used to hack my hair into a mess on purpose.

Now she was terrified I wouldn’t marry. Like she wanted to list me online and sell me off.

I exhaled and cut her off. “I’ll meet him.”

“Just a casual thing. Once you meet—” She stopped. “What did you say?”

I repeated it. “I said I’ll meet him.”

I needed a way out.

A reason to leave Kael. Completely.

Chapter 6

It was already late when Kael left the office.

The car started. His mind drifted to the afternoon.

He’d said he’d go home and make things right. But then Jax Reed had blown up his phone. Countless calls about some party.

Whatever. A few more hours wouldn’t matter. Kael shrugged it off and turned the car toward the club.

Jax grabbed his shoulder the second he walked in. Peered behind him.

“Whoa. No way. Your sweetheart didn’t come out tonight?”

That little bunny. I didn’t have any moves. I just followed him. Always followed. And looked at Kael with these big eyes.

And somehow, he fell for it. He let me tag along everywhere. Never even cared if it made him look weak.

Kael handed his jacket to the server. “She walked in on Chloé today. She’s throwing a fit.”

Jax made a face. “That’s it? I thought it was something serious. But damn, man. You practically rubbed her nose in it. You know she can’t handle your side pieces. Why poke the bear?”

“Even rabbits bite when you corner them. You’re not worried she’ll bolt for good?”

Kael lit a cigarette. “A woman with no temper’s boring. Let her be mad for a couple days.”

Jax slapped his forehead. “My birthday’s the day after tomorrow. With you two like this, are you even coming?”

Someone chimed in. “That’s still two days away. Based on historical data, I’m guessing she’ll be calling to make up by tonight.”

Kael sounded lazy. “I’m fine either way. As for her—figure it out yourself.”

“Easy. Give me Elara’s number.” Jax pulled out his phone. “Normally if you even whisper ‘breakup,’ she’s scared to death.”

“I’ll bluff her. Tell her if she dares skip my party, I’ll make my brother break up with her.”

The call was dialing. Kael reminded him, “Don’t scare her too much. She’s fragile—”

Jax answered with a “Yeah?” and then went still for a long beat.

A stranger’s voice came through the other end.

Jax looked at the screen. Then at Kael, completely thrown.

“The number’s right. But why the hell is a guy answering her phone in the middle of the night?”

Kael’s eyes cut toward him through the smoke. He narrowed them.