Page 58 of The Wrong One

“What’s going on?” Ramsey asked Izzy.

“I’m trying to have a conversation here,” Patrick growled. “Izzy and I have some things to work out.”

“I don’t think you do,” I said.

Patrick shot me a dirty, dismissive look. “We just need five minutes. I’m sure you have other things to do.”

“I’ve got a lot of things to do, but right now, I want to know what you’re doing in my lab,” Ramsey said in a voice that sound calm and cool, but if anyone knew him, they would know it was not a good sign when he was this calm. It was the calm before the storm. He was about to lose his shit.

“It’s not your lab,” Patrick shot back. “You have been running interference long enough. Izzy and I need to talk. We’ve got some things to discuss, and I don’t need you butting in. You’ve done enough.”

Ramsey looked at me with a shitty smirk on his face. “Do you hear this guy?”

“I hear him.” I nodded and glared at Patrick. “Guy needs to be put in his place it sounds like.”

“Guys, come on,” Patrick groaned with exasperation. “I don’t need the macho bullshit. I need five minutes to talk to my fiancée. We’re trying to have a very private conversation and don’t need input from the peanut gallery.”

“Ex-fiancée,” I growled. “She’s not your fiancée.”

Patrick looked at me, then Izzy, before he started laughing. “Are you shitting me?” he asked her. “Him! You came back here to start fucking around with him!”

I froze. How in the hell did he put that together? I didn’t dare look at Izzy. Ramsey was strung so tight beside me I was afraid he was going to snap at any second. I didn’t want him snapping at me. Hopefully, he would chalk Patrick’s words up to him just being an asshole.

“You’re a real piece of work,” I said to Patrick.

Patrick smirked. “I always knew there was something between you two. Were you guys hooking up behind my back? All those visits you needed to make to see your niece or your brother, you were fucking him, weren’t you?”

Izzy was stunned speechless. She stood perfectly still. “That’s rich coming from the guy who couldn’t keep his dick in his pants,” Izzy snapped after several very long seconds. “You’re accusing me of the crime you committed.”

“I don’t know why you’re here,” Ramsey said. “But I’m going to tell you to get the hell out of here. This ismylab. This ismycity. You don’t belong here. She doesn’t want you. She’s way too good for you. You don’t deserve her. You don’t deserve to share air with her. Get out. Go now or I’m going to show you the way out.”

ChapterTwenty-Five

Izzy

Istood tall, my heart pounding in my chest as I faced my ex-fiancé. The man had turned my life upside down. The memories of betrayal and heartbreak surged through me, fueling my determination to sever any remaining ties with him. It was time to reclaim my space, my peace, and my independence. At least, that was what I hoped I looked like. Inside, I was recoiling and trying to hide.

I looked over at Cam and Ramsey. Patrick’s words were still hanging in the air. I couldn’t tell if Ramsey actually heard what Patrick said or if he dismissed it. It was hard to say with everything happening all at once. Cam looked like he was going to delimb Patrick. His nostrils were flared, and I swore I saw smoke barreling out of his ears. If he opened his mouth, I could almost be sure flames would shoot out.

He was that mad.

And Ramsey…my forever protector looked downright dangerous. I didn’t want Ramsey to beat the shit out of Patrick. I knew Patrick. He was very litigious and wouldn’t hesitate to call the police and press charges. It was exactly why I never told Ramsey about Patrick’s misdeeds. I wanted to protect him from himself. Lily did not need her daddy in jail on assault charges. I knew Ramsey had been itching to give Patrick the beating he felt he deserved.

This was not the time. Never was the time, but definitely not now. I felt like I was locked inside a pressure cooker with three dangerous, volatile jars ready to explode. It was only going to take a single word or a move to trigger an explosion. It was up to me to control the situation.

I put up a hand. “Everyone, relax,” I said firmly, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling within me. “Patrick, I want you to leave. This is my workplace, and I no longer want you in my life.”

His face contorted with a mixture of surprise and anger, but I refused to waver. I had spent countless sleepless nights grieving the trust he had shattered, and now it was time to reclaim my power and let him know that I deserved better.

“You cheated on me, Patrick,” I continued, my voice tinged with a combination of sadness and resolve. “You broke the vows we made to each other, and I will not tolerate your presence in my life any longer. You must face the consequences of your actions and understand that I am moving on without you. I don’t have anything more to say to you. I don’t want to hear from you ever again. It’s over.”

“Don’t say that,” he sneered. “You’re just trying to sound big and bad in front of your brother and boyfriend.”

“No, I’m telling you to leave,” I said again.

The two men standing near the doorway reminded me of two very angry pit bulls just waiting for the opportunity to lunge.

“You know you still want me,” Patrick scoffed. “This asshole isn’t the man I am.”

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