Chapter 4 - Truth and Temptation

I stood frozen in the hallway with my hand covering my mouth.

“She served her purpose and I move on.”

The words hit me like a blow. My chest tightened. I couldn't get enough air. Almost like a panic attack. I'd known this was fake but hearing him say it out loud to another woman made something inside me shatter.

"You're cruel," the woman said, sounding pleased about it. "I've always loved that about you."

"The girl needed money. I needed a wife. We both get what we want."

My hands curled into fists. Nails dug into my palms hard enough to draw blood.

"And what about what I want." The woman's voice dropped lower. "You promised once this was over we'd pick up where we left off."

My stomach turned.

"Vivian." Kaid sighed. "You knew the terms when we ended things."

"We ended things because you said you needed to focus on business. Not because you were planning to marry some broke nobody!"

"Watch your mouth." His voice went cold. "Sage is my wife. Show some respect."

“Wife.” The word should have meant something. Instead it felt empty.

"Fine." Vivian laughed. "Does she know you're only using her to get back at her father?"

Everything around me stopped.

My heart. My breath hitched. The world tilted sideways.

"That's none of your concern," Kaid said quietly.

"Oh but it is. I helped you destroy Monroe Industries. I fed you the information. So don't act like I'm not part of this." Her voice hardened. "What are you really planning?"

"I'm planning to make sure James Monroe pays for what he did to my family." The hatred in his voice dropped like acid on skin.

"He killed my mother. Caused my sister's death. And now he's going to watch everything burn while his daughter plays house with the man who planned it all."

No.

My legs lost balance. I grabbed the wall to keep from falling.

"And the girl?" Vivian asked.

"She won't find out. She's too desperate to see past the money. By the time she figures it out it'll be too late." I could hear the venom from his voice.

I backed away from the doorway. My whole body shook and I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't bloody think.

Kaid had destroyed my father's company. On purpose. He'd broken us and then offered to save us like some kind of hero.

And I'd believed him.

The rage hit me like a tornado.

I stormed down the hallway and threw open the living room door hard enough that it slammed hard against the wall.

Kaid and Vivian both turned. She was beautiful in that cold perfect way. Blonde hair and designer clothes and a smile that said she knew exactly how pretty she was.

She stood way too close to my fake husband.

"Sage." Kaid's face went blank. "I thought you went to bed."

"You destroyed my father's company." My voice shook.

"You ruined us and then offered to save us. This whole thing was revenge."

Vivian's eyebrows rose. "Oh. She heard."

"Get out," Kaid said without taking his eyes off me.

"But this is just getting interesting."

"I said get out, Vivian." His voice dropped dangerously low.

"Now."

“OK. Fine.”

She grabbed her purse and walked past me with a smile that made my skin crawl.

"Good luck, sweetheart."

Then she was gone and it was just us and the truth burning between us.

"You lied to me," I said. My hands balled into fists.

"You looked me in the eye and made me think you were helping when this was your fault."

"I never lied." He moved closer. "I said I could save your father's company. I never said I wasn't the one who destroyed it."

"That's the same thing."

"No. It's called omission."

I wanted to hit him. Wanted to claw that perfect face until he showed some actual emotion.

"Why." The word came out broken. "What did my father do to you."

For the first time, I saw raw unhidden emotion in his eyes. Something dark and full of old pain.

"Your father spent twenty years as my father's business partner. They built Greyson Enterprises together." He stopped and his jaw clenched. "Then your father got greedy. Started embezzling. Stealing from clients. From investors. And when my mother found out she confronted him."

My blood went cold.

"She threatened to go to the authorities. To expose him." His voice cracked. It sounded so raw. "So your father made sure she couldn't."

"What are you saying?"

"The car accident that killed my mother wasn't an accident, Sage. Your father tampered with her brakes. He murdered her to keep his secrets.”

My heart sank.

"No." I shook my head. "My father wouldn't kill anyone."

"Wouldn't he?" He grabbed my arms. His grip was bruising. "The man who stole millions. You really think he'd draw the line at murder?"

"You're lying."

"I have proof." He released me and walked to his desk. Pulled out a file and threw it at my feet. "Read it. Then tell me I'm lying."

I bent down with shaking hands and picked up the file.

Inside were documents. Police reports. Forensic analysis showing clear signs of tampering. And emails between my father and someone discussing how to make it look like an accident.

The words blurred as tears streamed down my cheeks.

"He killed her," I whispered.

"And my sister." Kaid's voice was hollow. "Emma was sixteen. She was in the car. The crash left her paralyzed. She spent three years trying to learn how to live with what your father did. Then last year she swallowed a bottle of pills and never woke up."

I looked up at him and saw real pain that made him look almost human.

"I'm sorry." I meant it. "I'm so sorry that happened."

"I don't want your apology." He grabbed the file and threw it across the room. Papers scattered everywhere. "I want your father to suffer. And you're going to help me do it."

"What?"

"You signed a contract, Sage. You agreed to be my wife. To follow my rules." He backed me against the wall, caging me in with his arms. "And what I'm telling you is to play your part while I destroy everything your father built."

"I won't help you hurt my family."

"You already did." His grin was vicious. "The moment you signed that contract. And if you try to back out now I'll make sure everyone knows you were in on it from the beginning."

"No one would believe that."

"Wouldn't they?" He leaned in closer. "Desperate girl suddenly marries the man who destroyed her father. What will people assume? Love or a transaction?"

He was right and I hated him for it.

"I hate you," I said through clenched teeth.

"Good." His hand wrapped around my throat. Not squeezing. Just holding me in place.

"Hate me all you want. But you're not leaving. You're going to stay right here and be my perfect wife while I finish what I started."

"You're a monster."

"Yes." He leaned down until his mouth was a breath away from mine. "And you married me."

“I can always leave. There is no marriage certificate.”

He cackled like an unhinged person. “ You're stupid. The contract you signed is also a legal marriage document.”

His thumb stroked along my jaw and despite everything my body responded. I felt the flutters low in my stomach and my breath came faster.

"You feel it too." His voice dropped to a whisper. "This thing between us."

"I don't feel anything for you."

"Liar." His other hand slid down my side. Over my hip. Pulling me against him. "Your body doesn't lie, Sage."

"Stop."

"Make me." His lips brushed my ear. "Fight me. Push me away."

I should have. Should have pushed him and run.

But when his mouth found mine I kissed him back with all the anger and grief running through me. I kissed him like I hated him. Like I wanted to hurt him.

And he kissed back just as hard.

His hands were everywhere. In my hair. On my waist. Sliding under my dress. I bit his lip hard enough to taste blood and he groaned.

This was wrong.

But it felt like the only honest thing between us.

He lifted me and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He carried me to his bedroom and kicked the door shut. Pressed me against it.

"You can hate me, Sage." His voice was rough. "But you'll still come apart for me.”