Till Death, I Love You

Bang!

The hotel suite door was kicked open.

Summer flinched beneath the thin blanket, but kept her eyes closed, her head resting against the shoulder of the man beside her, who was also pretending to be asleep.

As the footsteps approached, she slowly opened her eyes.

She propped herself up on one elbow and looked toward the door, pretending she'd just woken up.

It was Ian Jensen.

Tall and long-legged, he wore a crisp white dress shirt tucked into tailored pants, the fitted fabric outlining his muscular build. His dark eyes had always had a way of drawing her in, making it impossible to look away.

She'd loved him for four years.

If not for what she'd been forced to do today, their engagement party would have been tomorrow.

But that wasn't going to happen anymore.

“Ian? What are you doing here?”

Summer tried to keep her voice from trembling.

“What am I doing here? You've got some nerve asking me that!”

Ian crossed the room in a few strides, grabbed her arm, and yanked her out of bed.

Caught off guard, Summer slammed her forehead into the corner of the nightstand.

Something warm trickled down her cheek.

Blood.

Her vision went black, and a loud ringing filled her ears. The blow left her so dazed she could barely think straight.

But Ian was just getting started.

Furious, he dragged her toward the door.

Summer was wearing nothing but a thin, strappy nightgown. She stumbled along behind him, her vision only clearing after he'd dragged her several steps.

“Ian, you're hurting me.”

“Hurting you? Did you complain about being hurt when you were sleeping with that other guy?”

His words cut deep, sending a sharp pain through her chest.

“I just feel like I've missed out on so much. I've spent all these years with you, and we're about to get married. Once we're married, you'll still be the only man in my life.”

“Missed out? What, I haven't given you enough? Or haven't I been good enough in bed?”

Ian's eyes were bloodshot as he yanked the suite door open.

Several bodyguards stood outside, along with a tall woman named Moira Morgan, whose face was filled with disgust.

“Cripple the guy in that room. I'll take responsibility for whatever happens.”

With that order, Ian dragged Summer into another suite diagonally across the hall.

“I was only gone on business for a month. You really couldn't go that long without another man?”

He shoved her onto the couch.

Before Summer could say a word, he was already on top of her.

Bang!

His fist slammed into the cushion right beside her face.

“Moira sent me those photos, and I didn't believe a single one. I came back exactly as planned, only to find out what an idiot I've been. You've been making a fool of me this whole time.”

“I'm sorry.”

Summer lowered her gaze, unable to face his bloodshot eyes or the fury he was barely holding back.

She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

“Sorry?” Ian gave a bitter laugh. “No, I'm the one who should apologize. Clearly, I haven't given you enough. Clearly, I haven't satisfied you.”

With a sharp rip, he tore open her nightgown.

Summer instinctively raised her hands to cover herself.

“Don't.”

“Don't? Isn't that why you went looking for another man? Because you wanted more? And now you're telling me to stop? What, are you playing hard to get? Is that what you do with the other men you sleep with?”

“Ian, I just slept with another man. I'm dirty.”

Ian's hand froze in midair.

Summer pressed her dry lips together and forced the same bright smile she'd always given him.

“I know I betrayed you. But if you don't mind, I'll go take a shower and get cleaned up first. Then I can...”

“Get out.”

Ian pulled away from her.

His voice was icy.

Summer froze.

The smile slowly faded from her face.

“I understand, Ian. I'm the one who betrayed you. We should cancel tomorrow's engagement party.”

“Get out. I want you out of my sight. Now.”

“Fine. I'll leave!”

Her chest tightened painfully.

She struggled to her feet and began walking toward the door, her movements stiff and mechanical.

“Stop!”

Summer froze.

Before she could turn around, a white dress shirt landed on her head.

It still carried Ian's warmth and his familiar scent.

“Put that on before you leave. I don't want anyone out there thinking I'd stoop to taking another man's leftovers.”

Her hands trembled as she slipped into the shirt without turning around.

Slowly, she fastened each button, one by one.

The fabric still held his warmth, but it did nothing to ease the coldness in her chest.

“Ian, I'm sorry.”