Page 110 of The Daredevil

Her eyes lit up when I told her Royce had saved me from the waters that day and how he found my lost earring.

“You were meant to be together. Now Ihaveto meet the man who saved my daughter and thank him personally.”

“You’ll meet him soon.”

I stayed a while longer chatting with my mom. The energy between us changed as though all the muddiness had been replaced by joy. It uplifted me.

Feeling hopeful, I decided to surprise Royce by making him a lovely dinner.

CHAPTERFIFTY-NINE

MICHELLE

I stoppedby a grocery store near Royce’s high-rise to pick up ingredients for BBQ ribs and meatloaf. As I headed out of the parking lot, I drove by a car that looked like Royce’s Land Rover. Did he get home early? Was he trying to surprise me too?

I parked the car just as Fiona exited the passenger side. She blew the driver a kiss and wandered over to her silver BMW, parked three spaces away.

Confusion hit me first, then anger and betrayal after. I heard the pieces of my heart shattering and falling to the ground. Each shard stabbed me as it fell. I didn’t know why I didn’t feel the pain the way I should have. Perhaps my body went into shock.

The man I loved had been cheating on me with a woman he claimed to dislike. Had it all been a lie? How long had this been going on? Was he even traveling for work, or had he been spending time with her?

Was Fiona the reason he hadn’t stopped by to see me?

Excuses, excuses.

Why was I surrounded by cheating men? Was it my dark aura? Did I do something bad in my past life to deserve this?

I couldn’t think clearly. My mind whirled with scenarios that made me want to hurt Royce and Fiona. Was the fake dating in Iceland an agenda for something else?Did they think I was a fool?Shame and anger boiled in me.

I’m no fool.

Hot tears burned my eyes even as I convinced myself of that. My chest collapsed in on itself, and my breath caught in my throat. I didn’t know it was possible to feel this. A strange numbness overtook my body.

Was Fiona the reason he never said those words to me? He didn’t love me because he already had another woman. I had been the most vulnerable I could be to him, letting him see all my flaws and fears.

Wanting to be home, I sped up out of the lot, almost hitting a lady with a cart.

Calm down, Michelle. You’re better than this. Don’t let a man determine your worth.

I heard someone call my name, and I didn’t give a damn that it was Royce.

CHAPTERSIXTY

ROYCE

Fucking hell.

I didn’t expect to see Michelle in my rearview mirror. What were the chances she’d be shopping at the grocery store near my home?

I called her phone, but she didn’t pick up and left a message asking her to return my call. When I got home, I gave her thirty minutes before calling again. No answer.

I texted her instead.

Royce:I need you to trust me.

Michelle:Trust what? That you and Fiona made a fool out of me?

Royce:It’s not what it seems.

---