Page 95 of Butterfly

Sighing, he plonks down onto the sofa and props his arms over his knees. “I heard things aren’t great with Alex.”

No need to ask how he knows that. Somehow, social media is all over Alex’s private life with the most absurd speculations about the feud between Alex and Rebecca, and the fact that Alex and Emily haven’t been seen together in a while.

Is she pregnant?

Is Alex cheating on her with the girl in the picture?

I’ve heard it all. “It’s not us…it’s something else. An external problem.” Is it? Or maybe it’s what I feared from the beginning—the fact that Alex’s world and mine aren’t compatible.

“I knew this would happen.” He pins me with a glowing stare, as if he wants to show me compassion. “Celebrities aren’t real people. They chase whatever situation makes them feel high. They want constant attention, and when something becomes too boring for them, they drop it.”

“That’s not—” I bite the inside of my cheek. Let’s think this through. What does Dylan actually know, and why is he here? And why should I give him any explanations? Besides, isn’t he a celebrity as well? I’m confused.

“Alex is always surrounded by beautiful women who keep swooning all over him. He gets tempted constantly and can’t keep his hands to himself.” He stands up to sit on the chair next to me. His fingers close around my hand. “You can trust me. I would never hurt you.”

I let him hold my hand. “I don’t understand.”

He rolls his bottom lip between his teeth and stares at our twined hands. “I don’t care about your past.”

“My past?” This guy is all over the place.

He nods. “That you’re an orphan and that you grew up alone.”

Ha! That’s not the half of it. “What else?”

He sighs and puts his other hand on mine. “You see, Vance told me he had some information about you that Emily would pay a nice price for.”

That little hag. “Why did he tell you?”

“We talked, and I told him I was interested in you and that once Alex showed his true colours, I would be here. For you. Because Alex doesn’t know about your past, does he? But when he knows, he’ll dump you.”

I rub my forehead. “I’m confused. Start from the beginning.”

He scowls. “Emily and Vance agree that Alex isn’t the guy for you. They think he’s going to hurt you. They want to protect you, and I’m the right guy to do just that.”

“Bloody hell.” I stand up and grab the back of the chair. “Great then. If both Emily and Vance agree with their opinions on my life and Alex’s life, it’s done. What’s more important than their opinion? Besides, do you think Emily and Vance did you any favours? They’re using you to force Alex to do what they want. You’re nothing to them.”

“Sienna, it doesn’t matter. This is the world of celebrities. They stab each other in the back all the time. Who cares about them? Let them eat each other. We’re different from them. We’re the same. Listen.” He exhales. “We can be happy together.”

“Oh, really?” The flare of anger warming my chest makes me breathe hard. “Of course, the fact that you think that Alex stole your role has nothing to do with your sudden interest in me. You aren’t seeking revenge. You really care about me.”

His warmth freezes. He isn’t such a great actor. “I’ll admit that, at first, the thought of getting to Alex through you tempted me.”

I wait for him to go on. “But?” I add when he doesn’t say anything.

“But we’re both victims.” He pounds his fist on his chest. “Don’t you see? Alex hurt both of us. We’re the same. We can team up and beat his arse. Payback time.”

This man is deluded. “So you want us to work together, uh? What do you say about this?” I turn around and pull my scrubs and T-shirt up, uncovering all the ugliness of my back, for once feeling a rush of power about it.

His gasp of horror echoes in the room. “What the hell is that?”

“My past. Who I am.” I cover myself, shivering, although I don’t allow the rising anxiety to choke me. I face him. The disgust on his face hurts, despite the fact that it’s what I want. I want him horrified and out of my life.

“What happened to you?” There isn’t an ounce of compassion or care in his voice, just brutal curiosity.

“Does it matter? Do you still think we can be a happy team together? That we’re the same? I wake up every night screaming my lungs out because of my nightmares. I have anxiety attacks that make me shiver. And I killed someone.”

He pales. “I had no idea—Emily mentioned something, but I didn’t think she was serious.”

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