I needed her to pull me out of the darkness that descended when my mum died. My father was too far gone himself. Tabitha was my person, and I was going to lean on her strength to get through.
When we pulled up, a dozen cars were waiting in the driveway. Tabitha had organized a party, of all things. It wasn’t to keep my mind off everything. It was to entertain herself while I grieved alone in another wing of the house.
She’d left me to my own darkness while she partied with New York socialites, cementing her status in the States.
She didn’t give a shit about me.
She wanted everything I had. Most importantly, my last name.
Something she’d never have after that week.
It had taken every ounce of courage I had to open up and give my heart to Raven, and she’d stomped all over it.
Thank you.
Those words had my teeth grinding and my hands balling into fists.
Did she not feel the way I did? Could I really have been such a prat to believe she could care for me as much as I did her?
Well, I was going to bloody well force her to admit she felt the same. I’m done running from my feelings.
I stalk toward the front of the massive house, searching for Raven, when I hear her small voice.
She sounds sad. Broken.
“Asher, please answer.” Her voice shakes, and I remain hidden behind a wall, eavesdropping like a damn tosser.
“Please let me explain,” she continues, crying down the line, and my shoulders stiffen at the emotion in her voice. “I love you.”
I love you.
Words I wished to hear from her lips that went unsaid.
Thank you.
My jaw ticks, and I have to prevent myself from falling into a fit of rage.
She told that fucking arsehole she loves him, but she couldn’t even tell me she cared for me. Was I blind to believe she was different? Could she have pulled one over on me so thoroughly?
Rage consumes me, threatening to pull me into a darkness I haven’t experienced in a long time.
Because I haven’t given a fuck about anything since the last time I felt like this.
I allow the anger to flow through me for a few more seconds before I decide to confront Raven.
Stepping out from behind the wall, I walk toward Raven, whose back is turned to me.
“Everything all right?”
Her eyes are wide and filled with unshed tears.
She’s fucking crying over him?
I steel my resolve, seeing things for what they are.
She’s no better than Tabitha.
She played me for a fool, and I allowed it.