Page 95 of American Beauty

Shit.

I squeeze my eyes shut for half a second, willing this moment to disappear. Wishing I could erase the last few minutes, hell, the last six months. But I can’t. And there’s no time to think.

I swallow hard and turn toward the door, my pulse hammering as I reach for the knob.

Alex stands on the other side, eyes stormy, chest rising and falling like he’s one breath away from coming apart. His jaw is tight, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

“I’m sorry, favorite. I just needed a minute to get my head straight.”

Relief crashes into me like a wave. But before I can respond, he shifts forward—and sees him.

His entire body stiffens, his control snapping like a live wire.

“Alex––” I step in front of him, my hands coming up to his chest in an effort to defuse the explosion I can already feel coming. “Please. Just—just calm down.”

His dark eyes cut to mine, wild and unyielding. He shakes his head. “Don’t ask me to calm down, Magnolia. I’ve been calm for far too long.”

His gaze locks back onto Ty, and I know that the time for calming down is over.

Alex steps inside without hesitation, his body coiled tight like a predator about to strike. The door slams shut behind him, rattling the walls, but his gaze remains locked on Ty.

His voice cuts through the thick tension like a blade. “The breakup texts.” Alex studies Ty, his gaze cold, calculating—like he’s deciding whether to rip him apart with words or with fists. “That was you.”

Ty shrugs, unbothered. “Yeah, with Celeste’s help. And your secretary’s.”

“And pairing Celeste with me at Soul Sync?”

“That was her idea. She’s still desperate to get you back.”

“You’re the one who paid for Celeste.”

“I did. And that shit isn’t cheap. You must be desperate for a wife.”

Alex’s nostrils flare, his hands flexing at his sides. “You did all of this to hurt me?”

Ty smirks. “Of course, it was to hurt you. Everything I do is to hurt you. Just like my relationship with Magnolia.”

My stomach twists into a knot.

Shit, what is he about to say?

His expression shifts, something flickering in his icy blue eyes. “At least that was the initial plan. But sometimes, plans have a way of changing.”

I suck in a breath, bracing myself.

Please don’t say it, Ty.

Pleasedon’t say it.

Ty’s lips curl into something that almost looks like triumph. “I fell in love with Magnolia.”

He takes a slow step forward, his gaze flicking to me for a fraction of a second before settling back on Alex. “And she was falling in love with me too.”

The room goes deadly silent.

Because all hell is about to break loose.

He’s unfazed by the rage radiating off Alex. “I love her, Sebring. I love the fuck out of her.”

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