Page 70 of Confusing Cade
“You think sabotaging my relationship, betraying me, was saving me?” I was almost yelling at him now, every word seething with anger. “You hacked her account, David. You tried to destroy her. You framed her for leaking lies about the Promenade. You put everything I’ve built at risk.”
“She’s a liability.” David’s voice cracked just enough to hint at something, but not enough to outweigh the steely conviction in his eyes. He straightened, his chin lifting, as if he were delivering a sermon from some self-righteous pulpit. “I was shielding you, Cade.”
Sheilding me? The audacity of it burned like a white-hot rage, searing through my chest, making my hands shake as I gripped the edge of my desk.He thinks he’s untouchable. The nerve, sitting there in my office, acting like he’d done me a favor while he’d torn my world apart.
“You hacked her FanZone account, David,” I spat, my voice low and venomous, barely containing the fury threatening to spill over. “You stole her private photos, tried to use them to blackmail her. And that’s only the start. You fucked with the Promenade, didn’t you? The zoning delays that cost us six months and millions, the bullshit leaks to the press that had the city commission breathing down our necks, the fake complaints that stalled every damn permit. That was all you, wasn’t it?”
His jaw tightened, a muscle twitching as he leaned back in the chair, but he didn’t deny it. His silence was as good as a confession, and it only fueled the fire raging inside me.
“You tanked my project, my reputation, and you targeted Bella to do it. You betrayed me every step of the way. And for what? Some twisted power trip? Jealousy? Tell me, David, what the hell was worth burning down everything we built together?”
He shifted, his fingers drumming once on the armrest before stilling, his gaze flicking away for a fraction of a second before locking back onto mine.
“You’re blind, Cade. You always have been when it comes to her. Bella Moretti’s a walking disaster, and honestly, her family’s a curse on this town. Her father’s failures nearly sank your dad’s legacy, and you were too busy chasing her to see it.”
“Fuck you.”
“As for the delays? Yeah, I slowed things down. Had to. You’ve been distracted for months. And not just by her.”
“What the hell did you just say?”
“The Promenade was moving too fast, without the right oversight, and then you let that whore cloud your judgment. As far as the FanZone thing...” He hesitated, his voice dropping. “That was just insurance. To show you who she really is.”
I seethed. “And what is that?”
“A hustler, Cade. She’s not one of us.”
My vision blurred with rage, my pulse pounding in my ears as I shot to my feet, the chair scraping harshly against the floor.I could hit him. I should.
“You don’t get to decide that!” My voice roared, raw and jagged, splitting the air between us. I balled my fist but still held back. “You sat there, year after year, acting like my brother, sharing my secrets, my wins, my fucking life, and all the while you were scheming to tear it apart?”
He didn’t offer a reply.Not that he deserves much space for one.
“You’re a traitor, David. You’re done. Fired. Get the fuck out.”
His face hardened, but he didn’t move, not yet. His eyes narrowed, a flicker of defiance crossing them. “You’re making a mistake, Cade. You’ll see it when she drags you down with her. You’re too good for her, man. You always were.”
“Get. Out.”
My voice was a low growl now, every word laced with the weight of a friendship shattered beyond repair. My fists itched to slam into something—anything—to release the betrayal clawing at my insides.I can’t fucking believe this is happening to me.
“You have ten minutes to get your shit before security drags you out.”
David stood, his shoulders stiff, his face a mix of shock and indignation, as if I had betrayed him. For a fleeting moment, I saw the person who I thought I’d known. But it was a mirage, shattered by the truth in that notepad. Our friendship was dead, buried under his self-righteous crusade. He walked out, his footsteps heavy, the door clicking shut with a finality that echoed in my bones.
I sank into my chair, the weight of his betrayal crushing me, a physical ache that pulsed in my chest. My best friend, my brother, had torn apart everything I’d built, everything I cared about.Bella. God, Bella. I’d failed her. I’d let David’s lies poison what we had. My hands shook as I reached for the phone, my fingers hovering over her number. I need to make this right.Can I?
But first, David. He didn’t get to walk away clean. Not after what he’d done. Not after hacking her account, violating her privacy, and trying to ruin us both. My jaw clenched as I dialed a different number, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.
“This is Cade Weston,” I said when the dispatcher answered. “I need to report a crime. Cybercrime. A former contractor hacked a private account and attempted blackmail. I want him charged.”
My heart pounded, the decision settling like a stone in my gut. David’s betrayal had cost me too much. But Bella was worth fighting for.I just pray she’ll give me a chance to fix this.
