Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 25544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
“I...I know you think I’m lying,” I stammer, “but I really...I didn’t...”
I’m hoping I could find a way to explain things without admitting the truth, but...nope. It’s clear to me now the truth is really the only way out, and so—
“I had really bad eyesight back them...but I never wore glasses.”
I find myself twisting a corner of the duvet between my fingers without looking at him, embarrassment and shame rising together because now that I’m twenty years older, the way I acted then just seems so unnecessarily...shallow.
“Sandy didn’t like me wearing them. He says it makes me look old, which I’m sure it does, so I only used them when no one was around.”
“I see.”
Why does it feel like he’s just playing along? Why does it seem like he still thinks I’m—oh.
“The sheet music was just for show. I wasn’t using them when playing. Whenever I’m rehearsing in public, I only play the songs I’ve memorized.”
His gaze narrows, but I tell myself that’s a good thing. At least he’s giving me the benefit of doubt this time.
“What about now?”
“After we graduated from college, Sandy paid for corrective surgery.”
He studies me in silence, his handsome face inscrutable, and I find myself gnawing uncertainly on my lip because honestly...
“That changes a lot of things,” he says quietly.
Did it, really?
I just don’t know what to think right now or how to process the fact that Mr. Everford and I met twenty years ago. And when I think about how he’s the same man who once asked me out on a date—
He’s right, I find myself thinking with a gulp.
What we’ve both just revealed changes things.
A lot.
And that terrifies me so, so much that when I heard him say—
“Look at me, Nicole.”
I want to shake my head, but when I make an attempt to do so, the sides of my temple start pounding, and so I have no choice. I have to put it into words—
“I c-can’t.”
And it’s just as I feared. It’s just two words, but my voice still ends up quivering.
“Why?”
I don’t want to answer that. I don’t even think I should—
Oh!
The bed dips as Mr. Everford sits on the edge, the mattress tipping toward him as he cups my chin, and...no, no, no.
Why is my body trembling at his touch? This shouldn’t be happening. It doesn’t feel right...but why doesn’t it feel wrong either? Is this because I’m still in shock? Not just from being nearly raped but also because after Sandy’s betrayal and kicking me out...
“Look at me, Nicole—”
Why are my senses suddenly swooning at hearing him say my name?
“—or I’ll kiss you.”
I’m already looking up even before he’s done speaking. Who cares about pride when it’s my heart’s survival at stake and—oh.
Oh no.
Because the moment my gaze collides with his, I can no longer hide from the truth.
I look into the ocean-blue depths of his eyes, and I just know.
I can never look at him the same way again.
He’s no longer Mr. Everford, the billionaire boss that my husband Sandy used to work for.
Instead, he’s who he’s always been.
A man who knew how my soul worked even when we were still strangers—
You play like you’re all in a world of your own.
A man whose words I couldn’t make myself trust because they terrified me—
Go out on a date with me.
I look at him now, and I...I finally see him, not just because my eyes are fine, but it’s because my heart...
It’s started working properly, too.
And so when I look at him—
I see who he’s become, who he’s always been, and I...
I don’t get it.
Why would a man like him want someone like me?
A man who could have anyone, choosing the woman whose own husband decided she wasn’t worth keeping—
“There are things we’ll have to talk about eventually.”
I can only nod...even though a part of me is terrified to even think what those things could be.
“But for now, all you need to focus on is getting better—”
Oh, if only it would be that easy. But I still have to make a living—
What the?
He’s just pinched my cheek like I’m a little girl being scolded, and he’s now...unbelievable. He’s actually gazing at me now like he’s actually expecting me to thank him for his discipline?
“We are two adults, are we not?”
I find myself nodding absently, fascinated as I am at the way he suddenly sounds so...British?
“Then may we drop the formalities and speak plainly?”
I nod again while thinking, yup, I’m not imagining it or anything. He really sounds so, so British—
“Are you going to sign the divorce papers?”
—and I guess that’s what I should be on the lookout for, the next time this happens.
When he starts sounding super British, watch out!
His next words are sure to give me a heart attack, and that’s why I’m now sputtering incoherently.
“W-Why—I d-don’t—”
“Yes or no, Nicole.”