Page 42 of The Right Kind of Wrong

CHAPTER 15

Evelyn

Nathan paced in front of me, running his hands through his hair. After the orgasm he had given me and the unexpected words from Hannah, I wasn't sure if what I wanted was to talk to him or repeat what we'd done in my restroom. I didn't trust myself. His lips were pressed together in a thin line, his jaw clenching and unclenching.

“Nathan, are you going to tell me?” I asked.

He knelt down in front of me, cupping my face in his hands, his thumbs running over my cheekbones. He leaned in, capturing my lips in a soft, gentle kiss. His forehead pressed against mine, sighing before his conflicted gaze met my own. Remorse was all I saw.

“I wasn't much different from your family back then,” he finally said.

“What do you mean?”

“In it for the money is what I mean.”

I frowned, not sure that I understood what he meant but as a sad smile formed on his lips, the truth dawned on me.

“You married my sister…for money?”

He nodded, his gaze unwavering.

“My Ma had fallen ill around the time I met Hannah, it was easy. She was pretty, she seemed like a nice enough person and I knew she came from a wealthy family. I started dating her and things grew serious, or so it appeared and it just…happened.” Nathan looked distant as if recalling the memory. “It was only meant to be until ma got better, but by then I had gotten used to the lifestyle so I proposed.”

Shrugging away from the man in front of me, I stood up, walking away. This sounded so different from the Nathan I knew, the one that knew what was worth it in life and what wasn't. Part of me could understand trying to help his mother but the other part, the part of him being interested in the money was nothing like him. “And then?” I asked.

“Well,” he sighed, sitting next to me. “We got married. It happened and things were okay at first until I started learning how your family pushed things like Josh's incidents under the rug, not only with him but other people in the company…associates. It all became too shallow, worthless. I learned shit that made me feel ashamed of even having a connection with the Carson's, Evie. Your family…they're corrupt.”

“So the picture wasn't as pretty as you thought it would be?” I crossed my arms over my chest. The fact that my family was corrupt wasn't much of a surprise to me, I knew that they did things they shouldn't in order to get ahead. “And then you decided that you weren't happy with Hannah, so you'd try with Evelyn, the younger more free-spirited sister?”

His eyes widened in shock. “No, God no. I understand why you'd think that but that isn't what this is, Evie.”

“Then what is it, Nate?”

His gaze softened. It was clear he knew the doubts I had. I didn't want to risk potentially falling for him if he didn't feel the same way if it was all a game. He stopped my constant pacing and placed his hands on my shoulders.

“I have no clue, but I'm not using you, I'm not going to hurt you.”

“Why stay married to her?” I asked, now curious to hear his reason. It was clear he never loved her.

Nathan shrugged. “I felt guilty I guess. She wasn't always this…frivolous. When I first brought up the idea of a divorce she said that we needed to give our marriage a shot and whatnot. The second time she was worried about what people would say. After that, I was set on the divorce but she asked for marriage counseling even though we both know that there's nothing to save. I agreed for the hell of it but set on the thought that once the time period is over we'll get a divorce and then you came along…”

“How do you know that your relationship won't work?”

Eyes widened in disbelief, Nathan burst out into laughter. I frowned, unamused.

“Evelyn, do you not see the hell that this marriage is? We can hardly be in the same room without killing each other. Granted, perhaps it was my fault that shit started out wrong but I tried to fix it, I matured and she…she's changed for the worse and I don't want to be stuck in this hellhole anymore. I won't.”

The conviction in his voice was unwavering as was the sincerity in his eyes. His decision had been made and he was convinced that it was for the best. I was too. They were stuck in a loveless, interest-based marriage that would only end up harming both of them.

Hannah should be with someone that had the same interests as hers, or maybe she was better off on her own. Achieving her dreams, gaining exposure as a single, strong, independent businesswoman. That's what she wanted, to brag about her perfect life and family, she could do that without Nathan.

And Nathan, I had no clue what to think. He wasn't a bad man and everyone made mistakes. It was easy to see that his life had turned around, that he didn't care about those things anymore. Not only that, but Nathan had always worked hard, kept up with expenses on his own.

“You don't care about the money anymore?”

“Not one bit. I care about you, about the beautiful, energetic and careless woman standing in front of me right now. I don't give a shit about what others think about me, not your family, not the media or your family's business partners but I care about what you think.” My heart thudded in my chest when he reached down, hand on my neck. “So, Evie…have I destroyed my chance of being with you?”

I bit my lip, considering the choices. He'd been greedy once to some extent, but the man standing in front of me, the man who spoke with honesty and conviction was the Nathan I knew. This was the man I had feelings for.

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