My Ex Husband The Alpha His Brother The Rogue novel Chapter 6

ter 6

Chapter 6

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He was gone. Cameron, and Kael as well. Like he did not just touch me in places no one else has in three years. Like he did not just make a fool of me in his bid to humiliate Cameron. Like he did not just taste every bit of me, and drive me to a toe curling climax.

In the blink of an eye, I’m alone, sitting on the cold, hard desk. With nothing but my thoughts, residues of his presence and a question heavy on my mind.

Did that… just happen? Did Kael and I…

I quickly shake the thought away.

My skin tingles as though confirming what I already know to be true.

It did happen. And I just let it. No… I did more than let it.

A knot forms in the pit of my stomach, nausea crawling in the back of my throat. The room spins and I grip the edge of the table.

This feeling…is all too familiar. It’s a feeling I wish I don’t recognize so well. It clawed at me every time I welcomed Cameron home, dusting down his coat while ignoring the scent of a perfume we both knew wasn’t mine…

This same feeling that consumed me on the night he announced in my doorway that he would be a father, with a grin wider than I’d ever seen on him.

His eyes gleaming with such happiness, while my heart shattered within me.

This feeling was humiliation…raw and bitter.

Every fibre of my being screams at me to run. To take my son and disappear where the Blackwoods can never find us.

But I signed up for this. Breaking my word means death. Kael’s made that clear.

The pricking sensation in my eyes and the urge to puke grows stronger. I forcefully blink them away. Tears don’t solve anything…not then, not now.

I won’t cry over another Blackwood. They don’t deserve to ruin me anymore than they already have.

Slowly, I adjust my dress and fix my hair and makeup as best as I can.

By the time I return to the gala, the guests are all seated. A shareholder of Blackwood Co. is droning through a speech no one cares for.

Grandfather Blackwood beckons me over. Liam is perched on his lap, fast asleep.

The knot in my stomach eases just a fraction and I exhale a drawn out breath.

14:13 Sat, Oct 11

Chapter 6

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Our table is reserved for the Blackwood family, which means Cameron, Sarah…and Kael.

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He doesn’t look directly at me but gets to his feet, pulling out my seat. And then his eyes are fixed on the

stage.

I do not look his way either.

“Laila, dear girl.” Grandfather Blackwood leans over, “Kael says you do not feel too well.”

I’m guessing that’s the best explanation he could come up with for our disappearance. I wonder what Cameron’s had been.

I dare a peek across the table, only to find that Cameron is already staring at me.

The intensity of his gaze startles me and the moment our eyes meet, something shifts in his… anger? Disappointment?

I don’t care to decipher it. Cameron never cared about me before, he won’t start now.

The warmth of Kael’s hand situating itself on my lap draws me back to reality. I quickly avert my gaze.

“It was a long flight.” I murmur, “For Liam and I both.”

Grandfather Blackwood nods in understanding. “Then we had best wrap this up quickly. Put my Grandson to bed.”

As he gets up to his feet, I reach for Liam but Grandfather Blackwood shakes his head. “You’ve kept this bubbly one hidden from me too long, Laila. I’m not giving him up just yet, or who knows how long you’ll disappear this time.” He takes Liam along to the stage to give his address.

The guests are applauding as he speaks, balancing Liam with an arm, and leaning on his cane with the other.

I don’t catch his words but he must have introduced us because Kael rises and helps me up as well. All eyes are on us and Grandfather Blackwood’s smile is wider than a Cheshire cat.

We’re the center of all the attention now, just as Kael intended for it to be.

The temperature at our table has dropped by more than a few degrees. I can practically feel Sarah’s glare burning into the side of my face but I ignore it, forcing a practiced smile to my lips.

I’ve had three years to perfect the image of Kael’s dutiful wife…

I hate him with everything in me but at this moment, my eyes shine with pride and delight.

My husband and I are being welcomed home by the very same family that cast us out… after all.

The silence in the car is suffocating. The seatbelt digs into my skin like shackles intended to suffocate.

Kael has been quiet since we left the gala. Not a smile. Or even a glance in my direction.

14:13 Sat, Oct 11

Chapter 6

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He hasn’t even bothered to ask if I’m alright after what happened. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t care to know that

I am.

I’m not surprised. We never talk except necessary. The longest conversation we’ve had for the past three years was on the night I signed myself away to his cruel contract.

Kael Blackwood only takes what he wants. Everything else, he discards without flinching. And tonight has played out exactly as he intended.

The moment we stepped out those doors, there was no longer any reason to keep up the facade and that familiar chilly silence that has filled our space for three years creeps in again.

I’ve grown used to it now. I’m grateful for it, even. Because I can only do so much to keep the tears down.

My eyes water and I blink rapidly. I didn’t think I still cared. I didn’t think it would still feel so raw after so long.

Sitting here, with the steady motion of the car, the memories of Cameron and Sarah which I’ve struggled to forget have all begun to surface again,

All the pain, disappointment and hurt…

I didn’t think seeing him…them again would be this painful.

But it hurts. My chest feels too tight to contain my heart,

Nausea churns in the pit of my stomach. The humiliation crawling underneath my skin is so visceral, and I can’t tell if it’s because of Kael’s actions or seeing Cameron witness it.

I dig my nails into my palm to distract myself.

But the urge only grows stronger.

“Stop the car, Blake.” I whisper hoarsely to our driver,

“No Kael replies blankly,

My heart drops, my hands trembling around the seatbelt.

“Kael… I plead, barely audible, “Stop the car.”

He finally glances my way, nodding to Blake with a grunt of displeasure.

As the car stops, I unstrap my seat belt, jump out and run for the curb, doubling over.

“Familiar sight…” Kael mutters behind me, leaning on the car.

He leaves his words hanging, but even if he doesn’t say the words, we both think it.

Pathetic…

14:13 Sat, Oct 11

Chapter 6

Many things have changed in three years. But some things never change…