Page 108 of Wed to You-
She retreated from him, fear shining in her eyes. He wouldn’t hurt her. The fact that she seemed to think so reminded him what he fool he was to think she might love him.
Then she pulled in a deep breath and stepped toward him again. “I know what I did, but I did it because I love you. Because I couldn’t let you ruin your life or Kaden’s.”
“No. You were supposed to support me. Help me.”
“I did.”
He might have admired her strength, but he couldn’t get past her betrayal.
“You want Kaden to have a real life. That would never happen on the run. Do you think Tanya would bring him to visit you in prison?”
He hated that she made sense.
“Don’t you see, Jagger? You still have him. Not just visitation, but joint custody.”
Mrs. Monroe had said the same thing. She’d told him the decision was better than she’d hoped, which pissed him off even more. His lawyer didn’t think he’d had a chance?
“Tanya is on board. She wants you in his life.”
Jagger sneered. “I should have known when you suggested I listen to her that you were a liar.”
“Careful, Jagger.”
Jagger had almost forgotten Mitch was there.
“She wasn’t alone.” Mrs. Stanton stepped forward. “We wanted her to call Detective McKenna. We did it to protect you.”
“Then you all betrayed me.”
Chelsea reached out to place her hands on his chest, but he pulled back, shaking his head in disgust.
“We love you, Jagger. And Kaden. This is the only way you two still get to be together.”
Jagger looked at the woman he’d nearly let himself love. At the staff who he thought had his back no matter what. He felt dead inside. “You broke my heart.”
Chelsea closed her eyes. When she opened them, there was fierceness in them. “I know you’re hurting, Jagger, but this isn’t the end of the world. You haven’t lost Kaden. You don’t even know loss.” This time she pushed him. “You have a wife and staff and uncle who think the world of you. A friend who wants you to have freedom and happiness, and all you can think about is yourself. About what you lost. Except you’ve lost nothing. Kaden is here. You’re still in his life as long as you don’t do something stupid. You don’t know what it’s really like to lose the people you love. To not be able to tell them you love them. To hug them. To see them live life. You’re so rich on love, but you don’t even see it.”
“Get out.”
She jerked back. It took her a second, but she gathered herself. “That was the deal, wasn’t it?” She shook her head and walked out the door. A moment later, she walked back in. “I need my purse.”
Grayson went to the closet and retrieved it. “Shall I get your car, Mrs. Talbot?”
She shook her head. “No. Thank you, Grayson.” For some reason, that pissed off Jagger even more. His staff was siding with her.
Chapter 20
Chelsea wasn’t sure how she made it to her car. Her legs wobbled, threatening to give out with each step. It was like she’d lost control of everything as she fought to reach her car. “Pull it together, Chels.”
“Chelsea?” Mitch trotted up next to her. “Why don’t I take you to my place?”
She shook her head. “No. I’m okay. You should probably stay and make sure he’s okay.”
“He’s just hurting. Men say dumb things when they’re hurting.”
She looked at him, trying to muster a smile. “You say that like you have personal experience.”
“Tons of it. Just ask Syd.” His eyes softened. “I mean it. I’m worried.”
