Semua Bab The Billionaire Married Me, Then Forgot How to Love Me: Bab 141 - Bab 150

(Margot)I can feel this is working. So I keep telling him the ugly truth. “You don’t remember the way he threatened to cut us off if I didn’t keep up appearances in public. But I remember. Every moment.”I watch him pace. He’s furious. About Savannah, about the media, about the kiss. About me being here at all.I will not let the empire I built from my pain be taken from me.Still, when I speak, it’s not with fire. It’s with something calmer. Deeper. The tone a mother uses to soothe her child like no one else can.“You think I enjoy this?” I say softly. “You think I like playing the villain in your story, James?”He doesn’t look at me, just runs a hand through his hair, jaw clenched so tight it might snap.I press my hands together in my lap. Composed. But my fingers betray me, twitching against each other. I don’t have to pretend. This is real.“I know what you think of me. You always have. Cold. Controlling. The one who cared more about appearances than feelings. You hate me.”“I

(Serena)Ronan’s hands are still on my hips when I see him.James.Standing at the edge of the dance floor like a thundercloud in expensive denim, scotch in hand, fury written all over his face.His eyes are locked on me like I’m the only thing in the room, like he’s not sure whether he wants to pull me close or set the whole place on fire.For a moment, I freeze.I forget the beat. Forget the music. Forget the crowd pulsing around us.All I see is him.And I almost go to him.Almost push past Ronan and explain everything, it’s just dancing, that I understand a media beat up, that Savannah and Margot set him up, that I believe him.But then I see it.The accusation in his eyes. The judgment. He’s on a damn floor, in front of a fire, alone with savannah…. Let’s her kiss him, and he’s mad at me?!Like he’s the one who was wronged. Like I did something unspeakable by being here, by living, by dancing, by breathing in a world that doesn’t orbit him.The fury on his face sucks the air from

(Serena)I’ve lost count of how many shots we had after James left.Three? Five? Doesn’t matter.What matters is I didn’t cry.And that I’ve had way too many drinks and the fresh air isn’t helping.It’s been a long time since I’ve been drunk. I like the feeling in one way and it scares me in another.My cheeks are still warm from the tequila and the dancing adrenaline, but my heart… my heart is quieter now.I feel lonely out here. Not just because I am alone, but because I truly feel James and I have separated now.And I don’t like how that feels. It’s a feeling that makes me want to just go find him and be in his arms again. To put up with their crap to be with he man I love. To do it all the way they want me too.But that doesn’t help James, does it. Then I become part of the problem.I have to be true to myself.I’m tired.My spirit is heavy.Not broken exactly. Just bruised all over.I pull out my phone to call a cab, ignoring the handful of paparazzi across the street. I don’t ca

(Serena)James gets to his feet, brushing dirt off his jeans. “Because I miss you.”Our voices are just barely above a whisper but no less emphatic.“Really? If you think I’m falling for that old chestnut, you’re dead wrong, and you can get back out that window before I push you out.”“The you who laughed at my terrible pancakes and let me fall asleep with my head in your lap after a 16-hour board meeting.”I don’t say anything.“The you who called me on my bullshit before I started pretending I didn’t have any.”He pauses, then adds, “and because my AI house played ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ three times in a row, and I think it might be gaining sentience. I’m not sure I trust it anymore.”I bite back a laugh. “Are you high?”“Nope. Just desperate. And probably concussed. I hit my head on a drainpipe trying to climb up.”I shake my head, torn between amused and furious and… something else.And that something else is dangerous.Because it feels like hope.Because his voice still gets

(Serena)I grab a pillow and smack her in the face. “Absolutely not. Jesus, Haylee.”She flops onto the bed next to me, laughing and not remotely sorry. “I mean, I’d understand. Did you see the man tonight? Sin in a sweater.”“I never noticed,” I lie.“But also an idiot. Still, an idiot with a face sculpted by angels on commission.”“I’m not bonking him.”“He was so angry and needy… that’s sexual crack on stick. I wanted to do him myself.”“Be my guest.”She eyes me knowingly. “So you’re just glowing from the tequila, then? You never saw him after he left… at all?”I groan and yank the blanket up over my face. “Oh my god. Shut. Up.”I push the blanket off again.Her eyes land on something on my dresser.She sits bolt upright. And scrambles off the bed and grabs it. “What’s this?”She pops open the velvet box. Her voice goes all high-pitched and scandalized. “Serena Langley! You told me you left all the jewelry behind.”I close my eyes. “Well, I did,” I lie, badly.“You said it was sym