Page 96 of She Was Mine First

“A man of my caliber is put in situations where it’s expected of him, but, sweetheart, they’re just a fuck.” He grabbed my face. “I come home to you. You’re the one I want to be my wife, my partner, the mother of my children. You’re Mrs. Hunter.”

My mouth dropped open, yanking my face away from his grasp. “You piece of shit! You’ve been cheating on me?”

“Elizabeth, Ethan doesn’t know all the facts—”

“You’re right, you fucking asshole! He doesn’t know shit! You’re the one who just told on yourself!”

Beau’s face immediately paled. “What?”

“I can’t believe you! You were going to marry me after sleeping with other women? Oh my God! While you’re still sleeping with me?!”

Beau glared at Ethan. “You fucking played me?”

“Like a fiddle,” he replied.

“You motherfucker!” He went for Ethan, but I jumped in front of him.

“That’s what you care about? That’s who you’re going to fight with? I just found out you’ve been sleeping around behind my back, and you want to battle it out with Ethan instead of with me? You’re a shameless piece of shit!” I pushed him as hard as I could. “How dare you use me?”

“Use you?! You really want to play that card? We’ve been using each other!”

“Screw you! I may not be in love with you, but I still love you, Beau! I respect you, while you obviously have none for me.”

“Elizabeth, you need to understand. It’s just the way it is. You think your father has been faithful to your mother all these years? Every man at our status fucks around. It’s nothing. It’s just sex. There’re things I won’t ask of you because I respect you, so there’s that.”

“Oh…” I faintly nodded. “It’s my virtue you respect. How ironic. What? Do you want me to thank you? You’re unbelievable if you think that you deserve that. And just for the record.” I pushed him again. “I know in my heart my father would never cheat on my mother! I don’t care what sick and twisted things you’ve conjured up to excuse your infidelity, but if you think for one second that I’m going to accept your ridiculous excuse and actually marry you, then you’re a bigger asshole than I think you are!”

“Sweetheart—”

“Don’t talk to me!” I threw my hands out in front of me. “Don’t even look at me! You lost the right to even be allowed to look at me!”

With that, I abruptly turned in my veil, and it flew behind me.

“Elizab—”

He rushed after me, but I didn’t stop for one second. I needed to find my parents. The famous photographer was probably pissed I was late to my pre-wedding shoot around the castle. It was why I had to get ready so early.

I hated that I was possibly going to make my parents look bad.

I hated that I would look like a runaway bride.

I hated that I was mostly going to embarrass my father’s name. Especially since he was eventually going to run for president.

On my way to their suite, I ran into him and my mother, frantically looking for me.

“There you are!” Mom reprimanded. “Elizabeth, we’ve been calling your cell phone for the past thirty minutes! You have the photographer—”

“Mom, I know! I’m so sorry!”

Dad took one look at my crazed expression and asked, “Honey, what’s going on?”

I loved that despite our tough love relationship, he still knew I was going through something.

“Daddy, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for everything, but I can’t marry Beau.”

Beau snapped, “The hell she isn’t!” Stomping up beside me, he lied, “Sir, please excuse your daughter. She’s just having cold feet. It’s nothing.”

“Oh, it’s nothing?” I seethed, glaring at him. “You cheating on me is now reduced to nothing?”

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