Page 116 of Sweet Wicked Vows

A means to an end, nothing more.

A means to an end, nothing more.

Fresh waves of heartache washed over me as I tried to force the memory back into the tight, compact box I created.

“Your brother told me damn all.” I avoided even a glimpse of those stormy whiskey eyes out of fear I’d crumble. “I heard you both that day. I stopped into the office to speak to you. I thought you were in a meeting, so I waited in my office. That’s when I heard you both.”

His throat bobbed as a crack of agonized panic traced his features. “You were there?”

Unfortunately.

“Yes.”

“And you heard everything?”

“I heard enough. You used me for some twisted plot of revenge,” I said. “I was nothing more than a pawn in your fucked up plan. What were you going to do, completely destroy my father’s company and reputation and then walk away? Just leave me discarded once I served my purpose, huh? Like a piece of garbage?”

He reached for me. “Evelyn…”

“Don’t you dare touch me.” I was unable to stop the tears blurring my vision when he flinched. “You know what? I don’t give a shit. Go ahead and release whatever shit you have on my dad. Do what you always planned on doing.”

“That’s not going to happen. I won’t allow it to happen.”

“Grown a set of morals all of a sudden, have you?” I spat. “You’re a joke, Jaxon. Do whatever the hell you want. See if I care.”

Except I did. I cared more than I wanted to.

I cared so fucking much it was killing me.

“Let me explain, please,douceur.”

That damn nickname. He may as well have reached into my chest with a shard of broken glass and cut my barely beating heart out to smash between his hands in front of me.

“I trusted you,” I whispered. “You made me believe that what we had was real. All those months were nothing but a lie. I guess it must have made you laugh watching me fall in love with you. Probably made it easier for you, huh?”

“It wasn’t all a lie,” he said desperately. “If you let me explain, then you’ll know that what I feel for you is the furthest thing from a lie. I’m in love with you, and I can’t lose you. I just can’t.”

I’m in love with you.

Although my anger for him burned bright, I couldn’t deny howbeing this close to him made me miss him ten times more.

I hated myself for missing him.

I’m in love with you.

Those words broke the dam within me.

“Don’t.” Tears slipped free. “You and your brother can both go to hell. I was naïve trusting your brother in business.” I finally met his gaze. His glossy eyes caused my stomach to knot. It took all my strength to ignore my need to comfort him. “But I was a complete fool for ever allowing myself to love you, and I will never forgive myself for that.”

“You win.” I extended my hand. “You were right. I was never cut out for this because we both know this is not my dream.”

Kerry blinked slowly three times. “I beg your pardon?”

It was both the easiest and hardest decision.

Neither Flynn nor I wanted anything to do with our father’s business. We both agreed that we loved our father dearly, the man who spent his life raising us, but neither of us cared for Lexington Reynolds, the diamond billionaire.

That man made a lot of shitty decisions and ruined a lot of lives to get to the top.

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