All Chapters of Taming the Devil: After Divorce, Tangled Up in You: Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

Sebastian sensed that Shania's hostility ran far deeper than simple resentment, and that unsettled him more than he cared to admit.He had made plenty of enemies over the years.At school and university, he'd been reckless, arrogant, and more than a little insufferable. Afterwards, he'd built his business the same way—charging straight through anyone standing between him and what he wanted. He'd never apologised for being ruthless in business, and he'd never pretended to be a saint.He had earned more enemies than he could count.Yet none of that explained this.They had dated at university. They had broken up.Yes, it had ended badly—but it had been years ago.Surely she'd moved on by now."Your hostility's a bit disproportionate, don't you think?" Sebastian said evenly. "We dated. We split up. It wasn't exactly a pleasant break-up, but that was years ago. I'd have thought we'd both moved on by now.""I should have."Shania nodded without hesitation."I absolutely should have."Her v

Shania had worked with enough clients to recognise exactly what was happening. Sebastian was deeply uncomfortable. It was hardly unusual—particularly with male clients.Over the years, she’d seen countless men held captive by outdated ideas of pride and masculinity, convinced that admitting emotional vulnerability somehow made them weak.Most of them won’t even speak to the people they love about what they’re going through, she reflected. Coming to a psychologist is often the very last thing they'll consider."Don’t worry about yourself, Sebastian," Shania said gently. "You’re not here to talk about yourself."Even though it’s painfully obvious you’ve got more than a few psychological wounds of your own, she added silently."You’re here to talk about this woman—Rosie. I want to understand why you’ve become so attached to her, and who she is through your eyes."Sebastian gave a faint nod.It did nothing to settle the knot tightening in his chest.The conversation wasn't supposed to be

Shania interpreted Rosie’s silence as equal parts embarrassment and guilt.She knew Rosie was, in a sense, supposed to become her client. After all, she was the very reason Sebastian had sought her out after all these years.And yet...Shania couldn’t stop herself from being a little petty.Rosie had never deliberately wronged her.But she had still been the reason Sebastian ended their relationship.Even when Shania had been his girlfriend, there had always been another woman living rent-free in his heart.Rosie.Shania had been the one beside him.But she had never been the one he truly wanted.Never his first choice.Never the woman who occupied the place she had so desperately wished was hers.That thought alone was enough to awaken the bitterness she'd tried so hard to bury.So she lied."Well," she said lightly, "you should probably know that I’m hardly the only woman in Sebastian's life."She glanced at the man sleeping soundly beneath the blanket."He has plenty of women on th

Rosie could do nothing but watch Sebastian disappear into his bedroom.The door closed behind him with a soft click.She lowered her head, disappointment weighing heavily on her chest."Ah..."She sighed quietly."I suppose I should've expected that.""He's a grown man.""Of course he'd hate being confronted about his bad habits."She clasped her hands together."He even denied everything..."Her voice grew softer."...even though he'd spent the night with the woman he took out to dinner."Oddly enough, Rosie wasn't jealous.She didn't see herself as someone who had any right to be.In her mind, she was simply his Big Sis.Someone who worried about her little brother.Nothing more.Yet even that concern...Apparently, Sebastian found it strange."He said I was being weird..."The words stung more than she'd expected.Only a few minutes earlier, she'd finally worked up the courage to remind him to practise safe sex.She'd genuinely believed she was doing the responsible thing.Instead.

Desiree parked outside the supermarket where Rosie did her weekly grocery shopping.It was still early in the morning, and the car park was almost deserted.She climbed out, walked inside, and headed straight for the only checkout that had just opened for the day.The young cashier had barely finished logging into the till when Desiree stopped in front of him, folded her arms, and asked,"Is the manager in? I’d like a word with her."The cashier looked startled by the direct approach. Thinking he had somehow made a mistake, he answered cautiously."I’m sorry, Miss. Have I done something wrong?""No," Desiree replied. "It’s nothing to do with you. I simply need to speak to the manager. I have a request.""A request?" he echoed uncertainly. "May I ask what it’s regarding?"Desiree clicked her tongue impatiently.She wasn’t in the mood to waste time.Without another word, she slipped two crisp hundred-pound notes from her purse and tucked them neatly into the cashier's breast pocket."Let