<b>Chapter 301</b>
As<b>soon</b>asthewordsleftmy mouth,Igrabbedmy<b>bag</b>fromthechair<b>and</b>turnedto<b>leave</b>.
“Slut!”Dorothy’svoiceseethed<b>with</b>ragebehindme.Iclenchedmyhand,pretendingnottohear.My<b>only</b>thoughtwastogetaway<b>.</b>
Butunexpectedly<b>,</b>asIwalkedthroughtheestate,Iwentlost.Iwasn’tsurehowmanyturnsIhadtakenwhensomethingcaught myeye:Itwasacourtyardthatfeltstrangelyfamiliar.Thougrgeandpristine,theyardhadanairofneglect<b>,</b>asifithadn’tseenlife forages.
Compelled<b>by</b>someunseen<b>force</b>,Isteppedinside.ThemomentIdid,thedoor behindmemmedshut.Atallfigurepinnedmeagainstthe<b>door</b>,hisfamiliarscentenvelopingme,leavingnoescape.Ilookedup,shocked,<b>into</b>hisdeepeyes.
Hisdistinctandlongfingersgrippedmywaistashelookedatmewithatender,entwinedgaze<b>.</b>“WhatbringsyoutotheMyersMansion<b>?</b><b>”</b>
“Mindyourownbusiness<b>!</b><b>”</b>Ishotback,strugglingtobreak free,butitwasuseless.
Bryant heldmygazesteadily.“Havethingsbeenokaythesefewdays<b>?</b>Dorothyhasn’tbeenbotheringyou<b>,</b>hasshe?”
Iscoffedathim,“Consideringyoualmosthadmekilled onherbehalf,whatcouldshepossiblywant withme?<b>”</b>
Hesuddenlyfellsilent,his griponmywaisttightening,afrowncreasinghisbrow.“You’velostquitea bitofweight,haven’tyou?”
Irepliedcalmly,“<b>I’m</b><b>just</b>slimmingdowntocelebratethedivorce<b>,</b>weingnewlove.”
Intruth,workhadbeenhectic,affectingmyappetiteandsleep,hencetheweightloss.Butadmittingthatfelttoomuch<b>like</b>seekingpity,<b>as</b>iflifehadbeen unbearablyhardwithouthim.
Hisfeaturestightened,his gazedarkened,andhislipspressedtogether.“Celebrate?Newlove?”? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.
“Whatelse?<b>”</b>Ilost mytemperandmywordscameouticy.“You’retheonewhoannouncedyourengagementtosomeoneelse.You’retheonewhotoldmetogetthedivorcepapers.Whatmoredoyouwantfromme?AmIsupposedtositathome,grieving andwearingckformonthsandyears<b>?</b>”
“I’mnotaskinganythingofyou.”Hisshouldersdrooped<b>,</b>asubtledestionsurroundinghim,“It’sme.I’mtheone whofeelsterrible.”
Iblinked.“Bryant,stopwiththenonsense.Youcouldn’t befaithfulinour marriage.Atleasthavethedecencytodisappearcleanlynow.”
Ithought,‘Don’tdisturbmylifeanymore.Iwon’tdenythatIstillneedsometimetoerasethosescars andheal.’
Bryant’sgripremainedfirm<b>,</b>hisgazealmostobsessive,“Jane,pleasewaitforme.I’llsorteverything<b>out</b>.”
“WhyshouldIwaitforyou?”Iasked,puzzled,asmirk spreadingacrossmylips.“TobeyourfallbackwhenthingsgosouthwithDorothy?Isthathowlittleyouthinkof me?<b>”</b>
“Thendon’twait.”His<b>face</b>edgedwithconflict<b>,</b>softenedashepulledme intohis embrace,his chinresting onmyhead,hisvoiceclearanpelling.“I’llsendyouabroad,okay?Jane,pleaselistento me.Leavethisce.<b>”</b>
“IsthatDorothy’s<b>idea</b><b>,</b>too<b>?</b><b>”</b>Ifeltachill,struggling fiercelyinhisarms,myeffortsfutile,almostonthevergeofbreaking<b>down</b><b>.</b>“Bryant,restassured,aslongasyoubothstayawayfromme,Iwon’tbeathorninyourside<b>!</b><b>”</b>