Page 108 of Seduced By You

Before I could squeeze the pouch into his food bowl, someone knocked on the door. Frowning, I wiped my hands on a towel, ignored Dash’s outraged meowing at being kept waiting, and went to answer it.

Shock must’ve rippled across my face because my visitor, the one and only Fenella Oberon, gave me a wry smile, shrugged, and said, “Surprise!”

“What do you want?” My question came out pinched and unfriendly. Good. I wasn’t in the mood to entertain my ex’s new wife, especially after the altercation at Val d’Isère. I hadn’t slept well since I’d left the hospital, I couldn’t do as much as I wanted to without wincing, and now I had a pissed-off cat weaving in and out of my legs. Any second, he’d take a swipe at me, claws extended.

“I heard what happened.” Her eyes flicked to my cheek. “I wanted to stop by and see if you needed anything.”

A strangled laugh burst out of me. “Stop by? Fenella, you live in England. In case you hadn’t noticed, this is the South of France.”

“I’m visiting friends in the area. I know we’re not exactly best buds, but what sort of person would I be if I was literally staying down the road and didn’t come to see you?”

I heaved a sigh. She had a point. If the roles were reversed, I’d have done the same. On a positive note, Benedict wasn’t with her. I should be thankful for that.

Standing back, I motioned for her to come in. “Would you like something to drink?”

“White wine if you have it.”

She stepped around me. I pointed to the kitchen. “That way.”

I set a bottle of wine on the counter and passed her a glass before giving Dash his dinner. He purred his thanks, claws withdrawn.

“Little shit,” I murmured.

“He’s so cute.”

“Looks can be deceiving.” On reflex, I touched my face. Fenella’s gaze went there.

“You’re lucky to be alive.”

My throat closed up. “Yeah.” It came out strangled.

“I’m sorry.” She downed half the glass of wine. “It must be hard for someone like you to look in the mirror every day and see that.” Her gaze went to my cheek again.

My spine stiffened. I crossed my arms. “What do you mean, someone like me?”

“You know. A model.”

“I’m not a model.”

“Well, no, not now. And you won’t ever be a model again with that scar. But I mean, what else can you do, really?”

My mouth popped open. “There are plenty of things I can do.” Outrage licked through my veins. I wasn’t about to tell Fenella about my modeling agency idea, but I refused to let her drag me down and make me doubt myself. I’d had enough doubts running through my mind to last me a lifetime. I was moving on.

“Like what? You can’t work for the Kingcaids anymore. Not now that Kadon has dumped you. Was it because he couldn’t stand to look at you any longer?”

Blood pounded in my ears, white dots peppering my vision. How did she know Kadon and I had split up?

“I bet it was,” she continued, appearing unaware of my growing rage. “Can’t blame him. I mean, he’s gorgeous and you’re… well…” She screwed up her face. “Mutilated.”

I moved toward her, my footsteps slow and deliberate. I stopped a couple of feet away, too afraid of what I might do if I let myself get much closer. I’d never hit a person in my life, but fuck it if Fenella wasn’t pushing every button labeled “violence.”

She backed away, but instead of a look of fear in her eyes, triumph shone back at me. I stayed where I was, assessing her play. Because checking on me wasnotit.

“Since our wedding, all I ever hear is your name. Annaleesa this, Annaleesa that. He never shuts up about you. I got sosickof it.” She laughed, a touch of madness elevating the pitch. “Little Miss Perfect.” Another laugh spilled out of her, shriller than the first. “You’re everywhere. You’re in here.” She jabbed a finger at her temple. “When Kadon told me what Benedict had said to you on our wedding night, I had to do something. I know why Benedict married me. I’m not stupid. But for all his faults, I love him. He’s mine. I couldn’t let you take him from me.”

“Take him?” I snorted. “I wouldn’t take Benedict back if he crawled to me on broken glass. It took splitting up with him for me to realize I didn’t love him. I never loved him. He’s yours, Fenella. All yours.”

“No.” She shook her head so violently her brain must’ve rattled inside her skull. “No, he’s not mine. Not as long as you’re alive. Not as long as there’shope. That’s why I did it, you see? If you weren’t here, then he’d turn to me for comfort. Only then could he see that I’m the one he wants. I’m the one he should have been with all along.”

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