Page 45 of Misconducts & Temptation

The thought of anyone seeing her, touching her, made my blood boil. It was an irrational reaction; I barely knew her, yet the idea of another man’s hands on her skin made my jaw tighten. I couldn’t understand this possessiveness when we’d only shared a single kiss.

I didn’t like it.

“Absolutely not,” I snapped, my voice colder than I intended. “That’s not how this works.”

Her expression hardened, the resolve in her eyes never wavering. “So it’s okay for you but not for me?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation.

“That’s unfair,” she replied calmly, crossing her arms over her chest.

“It’s reality,” I countered, trying to keep my voice level.

She leaned closer, her face inches from mine. “Then you’re going to have to find another girl to play house with,” she said softly but firmly.

I could feel the tension between us like an electric current. It was maddening—this girl who should have been nothing more than a pawn in my game was standing up to me like no one else ever had.

“Babes—” I began, but she cut me off.

“No,” she said firmly. “If you can’t give me fidelity, then we have nothing more to discuss.”

I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to contain the anger and frustration boiling within me. How could she make such demands when she stood to gain so much?

But deep down, a part of me respected her for it.

And that only made it worse.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. “Look, let’s start over,” I said, my voice softer but still firm. “Here’s what I want from you. Respect. You’re my wife.”

Elodie tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read between the lines.

“What does that mean to you?” she asked.

I leaned back against the locker, crossing my arms over my chest. “It means standing by my side in public, supporting me even when you don’t agree with me. It means not undermining me in front of others.”

She stayed silent, listening intently.

“It means loyalty,” I continued, the words coming out almost automatically. “You don’t have to love me or even like me, but you need to be loyal. Don’t betray my trust.”

I could feel her eyes on me, but I kept my gaze fixed on the pink drink.

“It means being a partner,” I added after a moment, the words surprising even myself. “Someone I can rely on, someone who won’t walk away when things get tough.”

As I spoke, memories of my parents’ marriage flashed through my mind. My father was controlling and demanding, yes, but he and my mother had shared something real—something that went beyond mere obligation.

They loved each other.

I knew that for a fact.

Even when they fought—God, they fought all the time—they always came back to each other. They had each other’s backs, no matter what. It was the one thing that stood out in the chaos of their relationship: their unyielding loyalty to one another.

I nearly scowled at the thought. The last person I wanted to turn into was my father. But…

But they did love each other.

“And respect means treating me like an equal,” I added, my voice softer now. “Not just some pawn in your game or a means to an end.”

Elodie’s expression softened slightly as she absorbed my words.

---