Chapter 17 Playing Hard to t
Lydia locked for her face Buddied
Lucas then temel to calm the sination. “That’s enough. We should let them handle theit marton. Let’seal
Around the table, people looked at weble with varying degrees of sympathy and concern. Some subtly hinted at their doubts about her health, others whispered about finding a remoted doctor to help het conceive, assuming her busy schedule and di inking haber had somehow affectedbec health.
“Yette, me all the work and business dinnect are taking a call on you. It’s probably not helping with you know, family planning.” Curth suppre
“De quiet.“Treite sapped, her voler ing. “What, should we let you handle the family business then?”
watching from the sidelines, I felt a sense of justice, in my previous life, I’dendured the unfair treatment and her indifference. This time, I’d see them all struggle.
That nothing to lose, while they had their names and reputations on the line. Today’s test result would be the talk of the Jenning family in no time
Since all the family members were here, I was certain that the news about Verito not being able to conceive would spread through the entire tenning Group. If she had helped me a little and steppedher parents from talking harshly to me. 1 eldn’t have let this happen
Al sat there, I was well aware of the effect it would have on her cares too. These had also be grumbles within the braid about a man holding the top position. This news would only
in the living room, nonchalantly
a show on my eating fruit and watching a sh Lucasta old glance at Yrette and gestured sputairs, signaling for her to coraling. timal Beside me, Cartis sidled up with a smick, histone smug “So, Cuen, bay’s display was something else. What? Finally had manghat being her kith plaything?
Exantly.“aweed flatly, meeting his eyes..
His smug look vannhed, and be stared at me, stunned. I chuckled at his expression and made to head to the restroom, but suddenly Yvette was there, approaching with that detached expression of hers Beton 1 could meat, she grabbeding arm and dragged me into a www.by room.
The does slammed chut behind us, and she turned, pashing me back against the wall. She wasch–tools–her Intense gaze fixed on me
Ishrank back instinctively, watching her in shock “What what do you think you’re doing?”
I wied to move aside, but she quickly blocked my path. “What do you think I’m doing?” She was hely controlling her anger. “In this what you wanted? A child, right?
My hearthdded as 1 stared at her, durabstrack. “Yvette, are you…are you alright?
phone.
I felt unreal hearing something so provocative coming liom her. She sneered at my reaction, clearly amused “Trying toplay hard–to–pet, angling for a drearce, while constantly dropping hints about wanting mow exactly what game you’re playing.”
Watching her, I scored “Teah, thanks to your family, I’m bombarded with reminders. And if you think about it, all the hard work of having a kid? It’s still yours to deal with.”
She rolled bars, unfazed. “Is that so
ask for this, al
I pick of dread “And, uh, don’t get any closer. I didn’t ask for this, alight was only trying to get Lydia in my back since you anem okay with her constant insults, S. don’t
Idd even pero bish the sentence before her mouth crashed onto mine, rough and unrestrained, bet grip lightening all
Litrate, my eyes wide, it was unbelievable. She was doing nu. Yertte was actually kissing me?
Back in my precious life, she’d never done this–never showed even a hint of intimacy knew she’d once taken me for Randall, and in that lapse, I’d been able to connect with her. Afterward, it was only when she was drank and furious at the world that she’d let me down, But this time, her behavior was like a different person entirely.
The shock broke through my daze, and finally managed to push her off me. But she only come closer, yanking my shirt her fingers traced over my chest, tanning along my mus
She leaned again, ber teeth sinking into my lip, a ship pain spreading as the Latte of blood touched my tongue
“Are you a dog, Yore? I snapped, woke the blood from my lip
jour, T’d been nothing more than her eager, loyal husband, the gay willing to be her doormat. Yet even when I’d given her everything, she wanted a divorce and lets me without a
This Gime, I’d already decided to let her go. And now she thought the could just waltz back into my life, kissing me like this?
Her eyelashes flamered, her cheeks Bushed a fainted, but the defiance in her preesen shaper
ou forget what celationships, Owen the shat back, unyielding “Astar as I’m concerned, if I want to kiss you even sleep with you–It’s within my rights as your wife. And weren’t you the one pushing this whole laid idea?
hot” So now you’re just doing that to opite me? Or should be spiting you instead?
3 turned to leave, but fint vake stoppede “Wabad? All for that woman Lilla, right?”
Mytepsis. 1 felt the lilood drain from my face as 1 oondback at her, shaken Howould she know about Lila?
In the entire year we’d been married, I’d never mentioned Lather, or had Lila od paths with her in any way assumed she’d either gly, didn’t care.
Tam, the commern of Jau Sipatwisted into a mocking sislik, her eyes beinuming with cantumpa
Seeing my!
you’ve hadden your litle crush the whole time. But don’t think I didn’t porket, Owen, So now, when I let it slide far salong, why keep stiming things up?”
Dad wadengudbeavily, der gar steely and unforgiving the kokedangeles now than she’d been at dinner, her votre colder than ever.
“Owen, I’m sick of playing along witli pour läste hard–in–petani Karp it up, and you’ll only end up burting posiselt”
With that, de rebrasedher prip, turned and lati, clamming the door behind her.
11 tank a keg while before trould shake o’i the bare of len wood. This whole time the haton
rdbeen playing along, assuming it was all just a game. But I’d out of patience and apparently.
Glancing around the homie, I spotted my in–Lown skiing in the couch bui igusted thomas fabanned outside to get some air,
Samiun pie nie akimwing, undle when he saw or coming. “06) Ms. Jerning ghen you die gilt?” he asked, a glint of amusement in his
Summon thuckled, winking. “The anniversary gill The our die bought with her thamanning. Tuwhat bring it Imide washer.”
Arush of cordasian spreadtharuchane as 1 peered into the front akan
cant seat of the cat, whce the gift bas secas indeed grout. .1 Insumed. “I never gat any gift. And how do you know it was for me?”
Chapter 17 Playing Hard to Get
“She prepared it long in advance, only bringing it out this morning. If it’s not for you, who else would it be for?
I opened my mouth to answer but was cut short by his quiet chuckle. “Well, speak of the devil,” he said, nodding toward the house. I turned, and there she was, with that familiar, elegant bag in her hand.
