Page 141 of Sinclair Duet

Damien crouched down near my knees and looked up at me. “No, Ella. You are the only woman. This is a mistake. That conniving bitch had the license filed under false pretenses.”

“She never told you?” I asked.

“She tried to call me a few times, and I blew her off. One of the first times I saw her, after the night I left, was in Florida after Dad’s first heart attack.”

“How long have you been married?”

“I’m not sure when she filed the license, but I left her about fifteen months ago.” He stood. “My taxes?—”

“Stop about your taxes.” I stood too. “You should not be on probation. You’ve been married for over a year. She could have gotten you off probation.”

“She didn’t want to help me. I wouldn’t speak to her.”

More and more thoughts were coming to my mind. “Why would she marry Darius if she knew it wouldn’t be legal?”

“She said she thought I’d be jealous. She never expected me to return to the hospital with you. With her plan, when I was upset, she’d tell Darius the truth—that she and I were already married. Then the two of us would live happily ever after.”

“Is that what she said?”

Damien nodded.

He reached for my hands. “Please, Ella, believe me. I had no idea.”

Damien

“Who knows about this?” she asked.

I shook my head. “I told Timothy the entire story. He’s searching for a copy of the license. It’s public record. We need to learn who Amber had sign the license and file it.”

“Whoever they are, they lied.”

“It’s definite grounds for an annulment,” I said. “I did some quick research after she left my office. An annulment takes about thirty days after it’s filed.”

Ella’s eyes opened wide. “What if she fights it?”

“If she does, she’s going to jail for falsifying legal records.”

Her nose scrunched. “How did you react? How did she react?”

“I was fucking stunned and angry. She was manipulative and angry.” I forced a grin. “Remember what I said about Allen and Angie on the plane, about them hearing more disagreements than agreements?”

Ella nodded. “Angie told me she was glad I was back.”

Closing my eyes, I let out a long breath. “Today, in my office, we were loud. Unless someone overheard, no one besides you and Timothy know on my end. She’s probably told Darius.”

“Oh my God,” Ella said, lifting her glass and draining the rest of the wine. “Do you still think he’s dangerous?”

“I don’t know. If he is, this will only add fuel to the fire.” I met her eye to eye. “Do you want me to leave?”

Ella tilted her chin down and ran her hand over her forehead. When she looked up, there were fresh tears in her eyes. “I feel so stupid.”

“You’re not. I didn’t know.”

“Who will believe that?”

“I only give a fuck about one person, and I’m looking at her.”

Ella looked up. “If I told you to leave, would you?”

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