Page 54 of The Reluctant Wife

“Don’t insult my intelligence by denying it,” I snap.

“I won’t,” Arthur admits.

What the hell?I pull the phone from my ear and stare at it. I knew my grandfather was a meddling bastard but this... This is going too far.

“Why?” I bark into the phone. “Why did you do it?”

“Why does it matter so much to you that she’s engaged?” Arthur retorts.

I blink. “It doesn’t.”

There’s more silence. Then, Arthur’s voice comes down the line again. “The king requested that her engagement not be mentioned anywhere, including in any review of her past.”

I rub at my temple. “Why would he do that?”

“He was worried, if news got out, those who mean to hurt the Royal Family might try to break up the engagement.”

My guts churn. My stomach ties itself in knots... The thought of her belonging to anyone else turns my insides to ice. But she was never yours to begin with. She doesn’t owe you anything. You never should have overstepped your professional boundaries by sleeping with her. Now, you must pay for your transgressions.

It’s my turn to stay quiet.

Arthur heaves a sigh. “If I’d known you’d get personally involved with her, I’d have?—"

“I already told you, I’m not personally involved with her,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Whatever you say.” To my surprise, he doesn’t push it. "Right, then. I’ll expect you here; six p.m."

He disconnects. I pocket the phone, square my shoulders, and snap my gaze to Tyler. "We’re going to London."

I brush past them and head inside.

"Wait. Ryot." She follows me in. "We need to speak."

26

Aurelia

"I can explain," I increase my pace so I can keep pace with his longer stride. He takes the stairs two at a time, with me right behind him.

"Aura," Gavin calls from behind me.

"I’ll be back," I call out over my shoulder.

Ahead of me, Ryot stiffens, then doubles his speed. By the time I reach the landing, he’s disappeared into the room where I slept last night.He’s really pissed with me. And I deserve it. But surely he can listen to what I have to say?

"Ryot!" I burst into the room. "Can you give me a second?"

He ignores me and, walking to the closet in the corner, pulls out a duffel bag. It’s half full, so perhaps, this is the bag that Tyler dropped off?

He picks up the clothes I wore yesterday from the chair where I placed them and shoves them inside, along with the Doc Martens I wore.

"What are you doing?"

He continues to move around the room, stuffing the charger of my phone into the bag, and zips it up. Then, he snatches a second duffel from the closet. He heads into the bathroom and emerges with some toiletries which he stuffs inside, along with the clothes he was wearing yesterday. I walk over and grip his arm.

He shakes it off.

My heart sinks into my stomach. I feel like someone took a battering ram to my chest. I shove away the hurt and plant my feet. He’s going to listen to me, even if I have to force him to do so. "Can you at least do me the courtesy of giving me a few seconds of your time?" I cry.

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