Chapter 3


    Hearing those words,n’s expression turned icy in an instant. His dark eyes fixed on ra with an


    intensity that felt like a physical force. “I’ve told you before I’m not the marrying kind, ra. If you


    couldn’t handle that, you shouldn’t have agreed to this.”


    A faint redness tinged the corners of ra’s eyes. “It was different before,n. It was just the two of


    us. Now, there’s a third.“–


    “She can’t threaten you.”


    ra let out a self–deprecating chuckle. “She just makes one call, and you drop everything for her,


    leaving me in the dust. Tell me,n, how is that not a threat?”


    A sh of anger sparked inn’s eyes. “You’re making a mountain out of a molehill over a little


    menstrual pain?”


    “What if it was more? What if I was pregnant?”


    “Don’t try to trap me with talk of a kid. I’ve always been careful!”


    His voice was cold, his words unhesitating. If there were a child, he’d probably drag her to get rid of


    it.


    Thest shred of hope in ra’s heart shattered. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug


    into her palms, the pain unnoticed.


    She lifted her chin, her smile bitter. “You once said that we were all about the romance, not the


    nuptials. That if one of us got bored, we’d part amicably. Well,n, I’m done. Let’s break up.”


    Her words were crisp, devoid of any hesitation, but no one could see the fresh wound bleeding in


    her heart.


    “I know you hate to hear it from me, but I’m tired,n. I’m tired of a love that’s divided among three.”


    She had been foolish before, believing that love was enough, that marriage didn’t matter. But she


    was wrong becausen’s heart had never truly been with her.


    ra stared at him, her disappointment boundless. “Think what you want. I’m moving out today.”


    She rose from the bed, intent on leaving, butn’s strong arm pulled her back into his embrace. His


    hot lips found hers with precision, biting gently. His husky voice wasced with a cool disdain. “Are


    you not afraid that the Bell family will return to its former struggles without me? You traded three


    years of your life for this.”


    ra’s mind exploded with disbelief, her eyes widening. “What three years?! What do you mean?”


    Three years ago, the Bell family had indeed faced an unprecedented financial crisis. Aftern got


    involved with her, he had indeed thrown a lot of business their way, pulling them out of the mire.


    She had thought thatn was willing to help because he liked her.


    Shaking, ra asked, “So for these three years, all your kindness was just an act, with no real


    feeling?”


    The words were a knife to ra’s heart. Her three years of devotion had been nothing but a sordid


    transaction ton. She had been the fool, thinking he loved her.


    Chapter 3.


    2


    With that realization, every inch of her skin felt as if it were being torn by hounds. The grief in her


    eyes turned to ice. “Three years should be enough to repay your kindness. We’re even now,n.


    From here on out, we go our separate ways,”


    ra curled up on the bed, alone. Tears she’d held back all this while began to cascade down her


    cheeks.


    Her seven years of affection and three years of tender care was actually part of a shameful deal in


    lan’s eyes.


    In the game of love, the first to fall was the first to lose. And she had fallen forn four years before


    he even


    Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    noticed her.


    She had lost, miserably and utterly.