“I knew it. Look, romance your wife. Take her someplace nice and pamper her. Make her forget about her worries. Just you and her, get it?” Elizabeth sighs. “Every woman deserves at least one grand romance, Elliot. I’m not saying do what Mark did because that would be overkill…and I’m not sure if Annabelle is into that kind of stuff. But she deserves some heartfelt romance from her husband. And if you can give it to her, I’m sure she’ll make you happy.”
I swallow a small lump in my throat. “When did you become a love expert?”
“I didn’t. She mentioned you’re giving her a million dollars. Do you know that Ryder offered Paige at least ten times that amount?”
“No. How do you know?” I ask, stunned by the revelation. As close as I am to Ryder, he never mentioned it to me.
“I overheard. The benefit—or curse—of staying at his mansion.” She sighs. Elizabeth is currently in exile from her own house because it’s in the same neighborhood as Dad, and Tiffany apparently wants to come over every day for “girl talk.” “Annabelle put too little value on herself, don’t you agree? But I’m sure asking for more never crossed her mind. She just wants to be okay and have some kind of future for herself and her sister. A woman like that… She deserves more tenderness from you.”
It hurts to hear what I already knew in my heart spelled out so clearly. Shame burns in my gut. I’m such a fucking pond scum rat bastard.
“Plan a getaway. Surprise and pamper your wife. I’ll stay at your place and watch Nonny,” Elizabeth offers.
The shame intensifies. She isn’t too crazy about my place because she knows that’s where I filmed the sex tape…even though I’ve replaced the couch and rug.
“Thank you,” I say.
“Thank me by making her happy. I know something went bad in your life around the time you sold the company, but whatever it is, it has nothing to do with Annabelle. And she needs somebody on her side, don’t you agree?”
I tense. “What do you mean?”
“I looked her up.”
A mild sound of annoyance spills from my throat.
“Don’t be mad. It’s impossible not to, given the things we have to protect. I suppose you already know about her father.”
“Yeah.”
“Then you know she has enemies.”
The definitive tone in her voice makes me pause. “Why do you say that?”
Elizabeth sighs. “Her father wrecked the lives of almost everyone in the town she grew up in. She left with nothing when her parents were murdered. I’m sure she has no one to turn to, and that’s a terrible position to be in, being punished for something she didn’t do.”
I grind the heel of my palm against my forehead. Damn it. If I were thinking more clearly, I would’ve realized that as well.
Elizabeth is right. What Annabelle Underhill and my dad did has nothing to do with my wife. “Thank you,” I say again.
“You’re welcome, although I suspect you already knew. You just didn’t want to face it in your typical bullheaded way because you’re young and male.”
“I’m not that much younger than you,” I say in a token protest.
“But still young. Don’t do something just to flip the bird at Dad or whoever hurt you before. It’s not healthy. Remember—your enemies are at their most miserable when you’re happy.” She yawns.
“Go back to sleep,” I say. “You sound tired.” I’m certain her idea of “sleeping on it” meant she was up all night tossing and turning, thinking about what my wife told her.
“Will do. Love you, Elliot.”
I hang up and toss the phone on the table, then stare at the dark screen. Why am I still letting Dad and Annabelle Underhill fuck with my head? Why am I letting what they’ve done turn me into a man I don’t like?
It’s entirely too much power I’m giving them.
Since I promised Marlin, I will help Annabelle Underhill…once. I’ll get her a top-notch divorce attorney who can take her case. But after that, I’m excising her like a cluster of tumor cells.
As for Dad…
Fuck him and his conditions and games. He can give me that snide smirk only because he thinks losing Annabelle Underhill to him has hurt me. But he doesn’t know that my anger doesn’t stem from my love for her. No, that died the moment she betrayed me. My bitterness comes from his pettiness and my own blindness. I saw little signs, but didn’t sit down to process them properly. If I had, I might not have been so surprised at their engagement or subsequent marriage.