Page 96 of Ruthless God

“So what if he is fucking pissed? I’m handling him,” he snaps, folding his arms across his chest. “How the fuck did you find out?”

“Don’t worry about it!” I yank the ends of my hair. “When were you supposed to marry Savannah instead of me?”

“After I couldn’t prove that you were drugged, he wanted me to kill you. I told him no and he told me that if I don’t kill you, he’ll kill us both.”

“In the beginning of the semester, did you have plans to kill me?”

“No. I wanted to, but I fell in love with you—again. I never stopped loving you, Lyrical.”

“Bullshit! You were in a pissing game with your father, and I was just a pawn to you.”

Defeat fills his pupils, and I realize I will always be second to him in his revenge. If it’s on me or his father or the next person. He doesn’t care if it affects me. And I’m so sick of being second to him.

He grips my chin. “I married you to protect you. He can’t touch you now because—”

“Your last name carries so much power,” I finish.

I can’t stand the sight of him. His father can’t hurt me because I’m protected by Snow’s last name. Completely protected. It doesn’t stop the betrayal. It doesn’t stop the fact that he would have never told me and he always leaves me out of the loop.

“It doesn’t matter. All of this was a lie. Our marriage. You said that you loved me. But you chose your revenge over me.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“No? Why didn’t you tell me the real reason why you married me?”

“I married you because I love you and needed to prot—”

“I don’t need your damn protection. I need your honesty, I need you not to keep shit from me, Snow.”

“You would have gone to Clemon, and he would have started a fight between our families. I didn’t want a bloodbath.”

“Yes, my father would have, as he should.”

“That would have ruined the business image.”

“Fuck you and the American Billionaire Club! All you men worry about is your goddamn empire. It doesn’t matter if you hurt the ones you love. It doesn’t matter how far you guys hurt someone as long it serves you. Unless it protects your precious empire.”

He’s never going to change, I realize. Snow has always been this way, and I put up with it for so long because I love him. The secrets, the lies… and I’m tired. I’m tired of looking the other way when he does something that I don’t approve of. And I gave him too much power over me, letting him control everything I do. He will always keep me in the dark about the important things, and instead of telling me and treating me like I’m his equal, he acts like he’s my dictator.

Snow cups my face, rubbing his index finger along my bottom lip. “I was going to get revenge on my father and find a way to kill him.”

“You always leave me out, and you never include me in anything that you’re plotting. We’re supposed to be a team, but we’re not. You chose revenge over me. Whether it’s on me or on your father. You chose that. I’m always second to you as long as you’re seeking blood. You’re never going to change.”

Admitting it out loud hurts even more and makes me burst out in more tears. I wipe them with the back of my hand.

For the second time, my heart is breaking. The first time was when he walked away from me in the hospital after I told him I was set up, and now this. But at least I have control over this heartache. At least I’m standing up to him and saying no.

I remove my wedding and engagement rings and toss them at Snow. He grabs them, staring at the rings.

“I’m going home, and I want a divorce, Revi.”

Rage colors his face.

“You’re not going anywhere and if you ever mention divorce again, we’re going to have a fucking problem.” He blocks the entrance of the door. “You’re never going to leave me, and I’ll never let you go, Lyrical. I’ll tie you to the headboard, keep you here until you come to your senses. We’re just fighting. Couples fight all the time.”

He doesn’t get it. He doesn’t realize how badly he has hurt me.

I shake my head, my pulse accelerating under my skin as I throw on a white T-shirt and a pair of jogging pants. “You don’t understand how bad your actions hurt me. I’m not going to be second to anything. You already made your choice on which is more important. Your revenge. You need to let me go, or I’m going to hate you. If you keep me here, I’m going to hate you, Snow.”

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