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)
"A penny for your thoughts?"
I can't remember the last time I've heard someone say that, but it suits him somehow. I mean, I've never really looked at Mr. Everford—I've never really looked at any other man since I married Sandy.
But now that I am looking at him, I realize how he has this Old World air about him. Like he's a Regency lord reluctantly joining us in the modern world because he's noble enough to accept the duty of teaching etiquette to ill-mannered 21st century individuals like me.
And yet at the same time...
Gulp.
There's a ruthlessness about him, too, and it's how he's gazing at me now. Assessing me like a blue-blooded killer, and now he's just lazily considering on whether I'm to be his prey or pet, and I...I have no idea where that thought come from.
Is this because I'm in shock?
"Is your silence your way of telling me to mind my own business?"
My eyes widen. "I—no, it's not—I'm not—"
"I was joking."
Oh.
Right.
I smile weakly even though a part of me isn't convinced. "I'm..." I almost find myself apologizing yet again but catch myself in time. "...just thinking things through."
His eyes are gleaming again. Like he knew I was about to say 'I'm sorry'.
"I understand."
His sober tone catches me off guard. We're practically strangers, and yet he's been so incredibly—
"You caught your husband in bed with another woman, and neither of them has expressed any kind of remorse. That's indeed a lot to process. It's hard to decide whether they're in the wrong, isn't it?"
—sarcastic. And mean. And...honest.
"I'm in shock, okay?"
"But also stupid?"
What is this guy's deal? Why is he nice one moment and then not nice the next?
"You look angry," he comments.
"I’m upset,” I sputter, “because you just said I was stupid—”
"Deny it then."
"I deny it!" I don’t think I’ve ever said something so fast.
"With actions, not words."
All I can do is stare at him while asking myself the same question. Because I'm seriously clueless. What is this guy's problem—
Riiiiing.
"Starting with that."
I don't even remember I still have my bag slung over my shoulder until it starts vibrating, and when I take it out—
"Don't answer it."
It's Sandy calling.
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Because he deserves to lose a night's sleep—"
I put my phone back in my bag.
"—over this." He's smiling as he finishes, having seen what I've done.
"I'm not as stupid as you think."
"We'll see."
I have no energy to talk. I just...I just feel tired all of a sudden. I get to my feet, intending to thank him and book a room of my own so I can just sleep. But the moment I stand up, the whole world sways—
And just like that I'm back in his arms again, and this time I don't even have the energy to feel embarrassed. I'm just so tired I can't even pretend I'm okay.
I just start crying until my head starts hurting, and I'm still crying as I feel him lay me down on a bed, and all I can hope is that this isn't his bed because I really can't do anything but cry now.
"Rest, Nicole. It's been a long day."
He wipes my tears, and my eyes slowly close.
How confusing this man is.
I still don't understand what his deal is but right now all I want to do is sleep.
And so I do.
I'm not sure how long I sleep.
All I know is that when I wake up, it's to the sound of my phone buzzing nonstop inside my bag, now on the bedside table. I reach for it while my head pounds like I have a hangover. Not that I ever had one, but I'm sure this is how it feels.
I finally get my phone out, and my mind doesn't seem to be working right. I don't understand why there are so many missed calls and texts, and so I open just one in random—
You little tart! You'll burn in hell for this!
Why is my mother-in-law so furious?
I open another message, this time from...him.
You'll hear from my lawyer soon.
And masochist that I am, I do see an email from his lawyer, and boy does this lawyer work fast because staring back at me is Sandy’s petition for divorce...on the grounds of infidelity.
As in my infidelity, not his.
Chapter Five
JUST SIGN THE PAPERS, Nicole. Don't make this harder than it needs to be.
I'm still in a daze from Sandy’s email when I step out of the bedroom, and then everything becomes even more surreal when the smell of breakfast hits me.
Bacon. Toast. Coffee.
The smell of every Saturday morning I can remember, and it lures me down the hallway and out to the balcony where...oh.
There's like this royal banquet setup for breakfast that it almost has me looking around if the King of England is about to visit. All the things I smelled earlier, it’s now in front of me, perfectly plated in 8K.