Page 80 of Vengeful Lies

For now.

“You’re really doing this?” Dutton asks incredulously.

“Yep,” I answer, not taking my eyes off my fiancée as my mother parades her around, introducing her to people. I watch as my mother grips Jewel’s hand as if she knows she might try to escape.

“I’m sure your father would have given you the business even if you didn’t marry,” Dutton says. Even though he thinks he knows my father, he doesn’t.

Crue Monti loves to say how his wife made him a better man, which also includes being a better businessman. And while I don’t want to believe him, I know my mother made him a better person. She once went away to Italy for a week without him, and he looked lost without her. Two days later, he was on his private jet on the way to Italy to “surprise her.”

“Are you still going to kill her after all of this?” Dutton asks, bringing his glass to his lips. I pin him with a glare, and he shrugs. “Oh, right. Divorce was the agreed-upon plan. Word of advice, cousin. You’re not looking at that woman like you want to killordivorce her.”

“That’s none of your fucking business. Just learn to keep your mouth shut,” I hiss as I look over his shoulder and see my father discussing business with a few of his men.

Dutton chuckles in disbelief. “I’ll offer a great speech at your funeral.”

“Whose funeral?” Billie asks, walking up behind me. “Stop giving Eli such a hard time for his puppy-love gaze.”

“It’s not a puppy-love gaze,” I grit out at my youngest cousin, who just grins back at me.

“I like her.” She salutes with her champagne glass. “She’s kind of a little mysterious too, you know. We had no idea you were seeing someone, and now we have to tell all of Hope’s cutesy artist friends that you’re off the market.”

“Don’t bring them around.” Dutton pins her with a stare. “Their type isn’t made for this world.”

Billie rolls her eyes. “The thousandth reason why you remain single.” She pokes her tongue out at him. “Aunt Rya really likes her too. I didn’t think your parents would like any woman you brought around, but I guess anyone is an improvement from Michelle. She was a bitch.”

“You need to learn not to speak so loudly at events like this,” Dutton chastises, but as he looks at his sister, it’s with love. She couldn’t do anything wrong in his eyes.

I watch as my mother continues to guide Jewel around and introduce her to everyone. Billie spots Hope again and goes to join her.

“Your mother is going to be pissed when you separate,” Dutton says under his breath. I resist the urge to hit him. “And are you entirely certain your dad is a fan of her?”

I glance over at my father, who looks miserable to be here. Most likely because he’s watching after my mother, who isn’t currently giving him attention.

“If you still want an invitation to the wedding, you’ll keep your mouth shut. I told you I have this under control.” Dutton smirks and holds his hands up defensively.

I walk away, the only thing I can do to ensure I don’t kick my cousin’s ass in front of everyone. I ignore the few who try to congratulate me and shake my hand. This party is a formality only. I don’t give a fuck who’s here. The only person I want to speak to, the only one who matters in this room, is Jewel.

My mother notices me first and drops her hand from Jewel’s back, and I replace it with my own. The moment I touch her, Jewel’s body goes rigid, immediately sensing it’s me standing behind her.

She’s gotten used to my touch now, but her body reacts for an entirely different reason. I notice the pink flush heating up her neck, something that often happens to her when she’s thinking of promiscuous things.

I smirk and lean in, whispering so only she can hear, “You have a choice. Temporary truce, or we stay here for another four hours and mingle.”

Her jaw tenses, and I try not to chuckle. Because the one thing I know about my little tigress is she doesn’t like people, let alone being the center of attention. Which is exactly why I threw her to the wolves for thirty minutes, leaving her with only one option for an early exit: my cock.

Someone else tries to engage us in conversation, and we both politely smile and accept the congratulations. That’s when she looks up and is quick to say, “Fine. Temporary truce.”

I smirk as I grab her hand and sneak out of our engagement party.

CHAPTER 42

Jewel

The asshole knows how to play me, but I would take fucking this lethal man over socializing at a party any day. Especially a party that revolves around our fake-ass relationship that, as of late, feels more real than it should. It’s confusing. I’ve had these walls around me for as long as I can remember—most likely ever since my mother first looked at me in disgust and then walked away for good—and now I can’t help but wonder what a life not being on my own might look like.

I’ve now had a taste of what many women want, something I once saw as a sure sign of weakness, and now I’m intrigued by it. Or maybe it’s because Eli Monti is so good at pretending like I’m the center of his world. And right now, it’s not for show because it’s only him and me as his hands skate up my dress and he pushes my back against the wall in the elevator.

There is a big part of me screaming to tell him to stop this. But I also really like the warmth of his hands on my skin and the fire it creates in every one of my atoms. It’s been a long time since a man has touched me with such need, and I’ve felt that desire tenfold in return.

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