Page 149 of Test the Ice
His head jerks, and he reaches for his side.
Someone chuckles behind me. I glance over my shoulder, and the blood drains from my face.
Benedict walks through the detector as casual as ever, snakes an arm around my waist, and looks at the security guard. “Don’t worry. She’s harmless,” he muses.
His hand on my hip is like a cage.
I slap it away and step toward the security guard. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Benedict smirks and pushes his hands into his pockets.
He’s someone who looks prepared for court.
Me? I’m wearing the heels I still haven’t given back to Daisy from the fundraising gala, a thrifted dress, and hardly any makeup because I cried it off on the way here.
“Miss?” The security guard has his wand out, ready to wave it over me.
I spread my arms and legs, all while Benedict is watching.
“Are you waiting for something?” I snap at him as the security guard bends down with his wand.
“You’re good to go,” he says, stepping away to let me through.
I brush past Benedict, leaving his chuckle behind like I wish I could do with the memory of him.
“You know running away from me won’t make me disappear, sweetheart. I’ll see you inside those doors in just a few minutes."
I spin around in a haste, anger not even touching the feeling inside of me. “Why are you doing this?”
He stops his slow strides, and his smug smile stalls. His eye twitches as he scans me up and down. I cross my arms defensively because I can already hear the words that are about to come out of his mouth.
I beat him to the punch. “Is it because you still want me? Or are you just jealous of what I have with another man that you can’t just let me be? You and I both know that this has nothing to do with Charleigh.”
His glares at me. “She’s my daughter. Of course it has something to do with her.”
It’s as if he’s slapped me in the face.
“You called me a whore when I told you I was pregnant. Then you refused to believe that she was yours.” I stare down at myheels and attempt to lower my voice. “I’ve given you multiple opportunities to have a relationship with her, and I still adhere to that, Benedict.”
I look up at him, and his jaw is flexing with anger, per usual, but I’ve got news for him: I’m angry too.
I press my finger into his chest. “You just don’t want her unless you can have me too.”
His lip curls. “You think I’m doing this because I want you? Why on earth would I want a gold digger like you?”
I gape at him, my jaw falling open. “A gold digger? I’ve never asked you for money.”
He hums and walks toward the two large oak doors leading into the courtroom. “First, you get pregnant on purpose…”
Shock ripples throughout my body. “What are you talking about?”
“And then when I decide to move on, you find another rich man and convince him to put a ring on your finger.” Benedict’s mouth curves into an all-knowing smile, and he heads back over to me.
I place my hand on my stomach to ease the roll of nausea.
“That is not true,” I seethe. “And you know it.”
He shrugs. “Maybe. But the judge doesn’t.”
