Chapter 4

The harsh smell of hospital disinfectant woke me.

Melville had kept watch beside my bed. The moment I opened my eyes, he pulled me into a tight embrace. "Thank God you're awake. The doctor said your heart is on the right side of your chest, so you're out of danger."

He looked stricken with guilt. "I'm sorry. I never thought Cecilia would go that far. I regret it..."

I cut him off. "Shoot her with a crossbow too, and I'll forgive you."

Melville froze for a second, then flatly refused. "Babe, we've already settled on compensation. The Ferguson family agreed to hand over a month's worth of its Manhattan orders."

He kissed my forehead. "Leave it all to me, okay? No more fighting. I owe you big for this one. I've wanted those orders for a long time. Whatever reward you want, it's yours. As long as you behave." My hands curled into fists. My chest ached.

To him, my brush with death was just a bargaining chip, a way to squeeze out more profit.

Once again, Melville had put profit before me.

And he still wanted me to behave. I had to let him control me to earn his love.

No. This wasn't love. This was control. This was manipulation.

I pointed at the door. "If you can't do it, get out."

I said it loud enough that someone walking by stuck his head in and whistled. "The next head of the Taylor family getting bossed around by a woman? Now that's big news!"

Melville's expression darkened. He was about to say something else when someone burst into the room. "Melville! Cecilia's threatening to kill herself. You have to go see her!"

Soon Cecilia's hysterical sobs rose from downstairs. "Melville! Do you actually care about that bitch? Don't forget that our families already agreed we would marry."

Melville's voice was low, but I heard every word. "The arrangement between our families still stands. I'll go through with the marriage, but..."

The truth hit me without warning, and my heart broke.

The tears came, and I couldn't stop them.

When I found out he'd been testing me, I didn't cry.

When I watched him protect Cecilia, I didn't cry either.

Years of seeing the ugliest sides of people had taught me long ago that sincerity was too much to expect from some people.

But I never, ever imagined that from start to finish, what I thought was love had been nothing but a con.

Their families had arranged for them to marry all along, yet they'd watched me fall for him. They'd watched me get dragged behind a car to keep him safe. They'd watched me nearly be humiliated for his sake.

And I'd mistaken every bit of it for real love.

All my worry and fear, every time I had risked everything to protect him, had been nothing but a stupid game to them.

When had a Calvetti ever been humiliated like this?

But every time, Melville's sweet talk had gotten me to forgive him.

Looking back, I'd been so stupid it was laughable.

I wiped away my tears and headed for the hospital's back exit, my mind made up.

A car bearing the Calvetti family crest was waiting there without a sound.

Just then, Melville texted me. "Where did you go? Come back. It's time to change your bandages."

I didn't answer. I pulled out my SIM card, snapped it in two, and left without a backward glance.

Melville, I'm done with your stupid love tests.