Page 5 of Red Velvet

"You can't tell me what to do."

I sound like a stubborn child who's been denied another piece of candy, and it appears he agrees with that assessment as he strengthens his lock on my wrist and pulls me toward him, almost causing the bubbly liquid to spill on my pastel dress as I'm yanked against his rock-hard chest. A feeble gasp is pushed out of my lungs as we collide, while he doesn't even flinch.

"Yes, I can. And I will."

I'm still too dumbfounded to react when he tears the bottle from my hand, taking away my only solace on this gut-wrenching evening.

"Hey!" I protest, firing another angry look at him.

A condescending smirk plays at the corner of his mouth when he juts his chin forward, beckoning me to speak. He lets go of my wrist, allowing me to distance myself from him, which I only do reluctantly. Normally an intrusion into my personal space like this would not only anger me but unsettle me in the most uncomfortable way. But when I move away from him, I feel something pulling me back, a warmth that promises comfort as much as distress.

"Tell me," he urges. "Got left at the altar? Guy cheated on you? Did he come to his senses and broke it off?"

Anger forms a painful lump in my throat, preventing me from giving the response he deserves. His condescending tone infuriates me.

"Wrong," I bark, narrowing my eyes as I fixate on him in a feeble attempt at reciprocal intimidation. "Ibroke it off.Ilefthim!"

There's an ugly flavor of pride in my voice. I've never heard myself say the words like this. Strong, unyielding and conceited, as if breaking off my engagement made me feel accomplished.

That couldn't be further from the truth.

Chapter 3

Kade

"Can I drink now?"

I don't like the desperation in her voice, but I let her have the champagne nonetheless. She's a good girl for asking, even though the harried tone of her voice spoiled the request.

She fetches the bottle from my hand with a hurried caution, as if afraid to get burned if she gets too close to me. Her instincts are right about that.

"So, what?" I probe. "I was right? Guy cheated on you, you found out and kicked him out of the house?"

She frowns at me with puffed-up cheeks filled with champagne that she quickly swallows to snap back at me. "It takes one to know one!"

An unfazed shrug is all she gets from me for that accusation.

"But no," she adds, weaving as she leans in closer. "Not that it's any of your business, but no, he did not cheat on me. Jim never would’ve done that. I left him because I realized I didn't want to marry him. It would’ve been wrong."

“Jim never would’ve done that.”The way she spits those words out, laced with disgust, almost loathing, is a telltale sign of what happened between her and that Jim guy.

She lost respect for him. Respect for him and whatever she thought she had with him.

And he didn't know how to win it back.

"Still doesn't answer my question," I insist.

Surprise flashes across her pretty features. "I just told you—"

"You told me you left him because you no longer wanted to marry him, but you didn't specify why."

She freezes, looking at me with a stunned expression. I can tell she wants to drink from the bottle again, but her arm lowers as quickly as she raised it, insecurity overtaking her face when she studies me.

"Was he too good for you?" I try to help her out.

And just like that, the scorn returns to her face, pinning me as she comes up with her response.

"Too good? Are you trying to insult me?"

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