Chapter 20: Confession

Denzel's POV

The moment I saw Amelia in the doorway, everything inside me went cold.

Fuck.

This looked bad. Really bad.

Susana had literally just lunged at me, trying to kiss me, and I'd grabbed her shoulders to push her away. But from Amelia's angle, from the expression on her face...

She thought we'd been kissing.

"Amelia…" I started, shoving Susana away from me like she was on fire.

"I'm sorry," Amelia said, her voice strange and hollow. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"You're not interrupting. Nothing was happening."

"It didn't look like nothing."

"Because she…." I gestured at Susana, frustrated beyond measure. "She tried to kiss me. I was pushing her away."

"Were you?" The hurt in her voice was like a knife to my chest. "Because from here, it looked pretty mutual."

"It wasn't. Amelia, I swear to God, nothing happened. I would never…."

"Why do you care?" Susana asked, her voice sweet as poison. "You're just the contract wife, remember? You said so yourself. So what does it matter what Denzel does or doesn't do?"

I watched Amelia's face crumple, just for a second, before she locked it down. And I wanted to murder Susana for putting that look in her eyes.

"You're right," Amelia said, her voice hollow. "It doesn't matter. Excuse me."

She turned to leave.

"Amelia, wait…." I started after her, but she held up a hand without turning around.

"Don't. Just... don't."

She walked away, and I stood there, torn between going after her and dealing with the viper in my study.

I chose the viper.

I turned to Susana, and whatever she saw in my face made her take a step back.

"Get out of my study," I said, my voice deadly calm. "Get out of my house. Pack your things and Connor's things. You have one hour."

"You can't be serious…."

"I have never been more serious in my life. You tried to kiss me. You deliberately tried to sabotage my marriage. You're done here."

"Your marriage?" She laughed. "That's not a real marriage, Denzel. It's a contract. A business deal. You don't love her."

"Get. Out."

"Fine. But this isn't over. Connor is your son. You can't just…"

"I'll arrange proper custody and visitation through my lawyers. But you? You are not welcome in this house ever again. Now get the fuck out before I have security escort you out."

She grabbed her purse and stormed out, muttering curses under her breath.

The moment she was gone, I headed straight for Amelia's wing.

Rayna's POV

I made it to my room before the tears started.

Stupid. I was so stupid.

Why did seeing Susana's hands on him hurt so much? Why did the thought of them kissing make me feel like I was being ripped apart?

We were nothing. Contract spouses. I'd said so myself.

So why did it feel like my heart was breaking?

There was a knock on my door.

"Go away," I called out.

"It's me." Naomi's voice. "Please let me in, Ray."

I hesitated, then got up and unlocked the door. Naomi slipped inside, took one look at my face, and pulled me into a hug.

"I heard," she said. "Denzel told me what happened."

"Did he tell you that Susana was about to kiss him?"

"He told me Susana tried to kiss him and he was pushing her away when you walked in." She pulled back to look at me. "Ray, you know my brother. You know he wouldn't…"

"I don't know anything anymore," I said, my voice breaking. "I don't know what's real and what's pretend and I…" I couldn't finish.

"You're in love with him," Naomi said softly.

"I'm not…."

"Yes, you are. And you know what? He's in love with you too. He's just too stubborn to admit it."

"It doesn't matter.."

"It matters. Ray, he kicked Susana out. Told her to pack her shit and leave tonight. Connor too. Because of what she did. Because of how it hurt you."

My head snapped up. "Connor? But he's Denzel's son…"

"And Denzel said he'll arrange proper custody, but Susana is not welcome here anymore." Naomi squeezed my hands. "That's not the action of a man who doesn't care, Ray."

Before I could respond, there was another knock. Harder this time.

"Amelia." Denzel's voice, rough and urgent. "Please. I need to talk to you."

Naomi gave me a look and slipped out, leaving me alone.

"Amelia, please. Let me explain."

I stood up and walked to the door but didn't open it. "What's there to explain?”

"Everything. Nothing happened with Susana. She tried to kiss me, but I stopped her. I would never…" His voice cracked. "Amelia, you have to believe me."

"Why should I?"

"Because it's the truth. Because I…" He stopped. "Please. Just open the door. Let me see you."

Against my better judgment, I unlocked it and pulled it open.

Denzel stood there looking wrecked. His hair was disheveled like he'd been running his hands through it. His tie was gone. His shirt was half-unbuttoned. And his eyes...

God, his eyes looked haunted.

"Nothing happened," he said immediately. "She tried to kiss me. I was pushing her away. That's what you saw."

"Okay."

He blinked. "Okay? That's it?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know. Yell at me. Tell me you hate me. Tell me something other than 'okay' in that dead voice."

"Why do you care?" I asked, echoing Susana's words. "We're just contract spouses, right? That's what I said. That's what this is."

"Is that really what you think this is?"

"Then let me make it clear."