Page 37 of Contract Of Shame

“I offered her money.”

“Yes, and from where I stood she loved spending the damn stuff,” Lily said sarcastically.

“What else could I have offered her?” he asked. “If you’re so bloody wise, tell me.”

“With everything she went through with that scumbag and the way she looked at you, I’d say she would have been happier with your love. If you ask me, Scarlet doesn’t know what it means to be loved. I saw the way she stared at me and Wayne at that casino.” She paused as Opal came over.

“Hi, big brother.” Opal embraced him before kissing Lily on the cheek. “Where’s Scarlet?”

“She stayed at home with Harry.” When his sister was about to ask more questions his mother called her over.

“You’ll regret letting her go, Richard.”

He didn’t need Lily to tell him how he’d feel. Being alone at night killed him. He couldn’t even face going to his penthouse anymore because of the memories of her. Hours were spent gazing down at the engagement ring he’d bought her.

Richard drank his whisky and watched his parents. They didn’t stand close together, no hands touched. His father stared off in the distance staring at the driveway.

Did he want this from his life? To have a stuck-up old fish as a wife and forever to want someone else?

He swigged his whisky and stared at his friends when Wayne came back. Opal was being introduced to a man older than she. He recognised him as Charles Clarke, another man from his parents’ society.

Another glass of whisky was swung back.

This would be his life without Scarlet.

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