Chapter 2
Right as Mara finished saying “I’m betting a lifetime!” a sweet voice cut through hers:
“Sorry I’m late, everyone.”
Elena walked in on her heels, instantly grabbing everyone’s attention. She smiled as she slipped her arm through Knox’s, snuggling up against his shoulder all cozy–like.
Watching them together, Mara felt like someone had just taken a sledgehammer to her chest.
Elena was Knox’s childhood sweetheart. From dating all the way through marriage, she’d been haunting them like some kind of ghost that wouldn’t move on.
But Knox never told her to back off–hell, he basically gave her the green light to cross every line in the book.
Mara used to wonder if Knox had feelings for Elena. Until she found those love letters and finally got it–Elena was just another tool he used to make her jealous. He got off watching her green with envy.
Knox finally noticed Mara standing in the doorway, his brow creasing. “What are you doing here?”
He hadn’t heard a damn word she’d said.
Mara gripped her purse strap tighter. “My necklace went missing from the house. Wondering if you’ve seen it.”
Knox clearly froze for a second, something dark flickering in his eyes. “That’s it?”
“What else?” Mara shot back. “What did you think I was here for?”
His face went stone cold. Mara knew that look way too well–he’d get that pissy expression every time she didn’t follow his little script.
“You mean that silver necklace?” Elena suddenly jumped in, all innocent–like. “I mentioned I liked it once, and Knox just gave it to me. But I accidentally lost it when I got home…”
Mara’s head started buzzing, blood rushing straight to her skull. “What gives you the right to give away my stuff?”
“It’s just a necklace,” Knox cut her off coldly. “Why are you throwing such a fit? I’ll buy you ten more tomorrow.”
“That was my mom’s!” Mara practically screamed, her voice shaking.
The whole room went dead silent.
Knox was clearly stunned, but he snapped back to his cold mask real quick. “Well, it’s gone now. What do you want me to do about it? Stop being so dramatic.”
20:20
99 Divorces Later. I Married His Rival He Couldn’t Touch!
Chapter 2
Mara bit down on her lip until she tasted blood. She’d told him it was her mother’s, and he still thought she was being unreasonable.
Knox, is this how you love me?
Once she realized the necklace was gone for good, Mara turned and walked out. One more second in there and she’d completely lose it.
She heard a chair scraping behind her–Knox was following.
Outside the club, the night wind stung her cheeks raw. She kept her head down, walking fast, not wanting them to
see her eyes getting red.
Suddenly, there was this awful creaking sound overhead.
Before Mara could even process what was happening, someone screamed behind her: “Look out!”
She looked up to see a massive billboard crashing down toward them.
In that split second, Knox lunged toward Mara. But when their eyes met, he yanked himself in the opposite direction at the last moment, shielding Elena instead.
CRASH!
As the pain hit, all Mara could think was how pathetic this was. Just to keep his feelings for her secret, he was willing
to let her die?
When she woke up, she was staring at a stark white ceiling. Mara struggled to turn her neck–the hospital room was
empty.
“You’re awake!” A nurse came in to change her IV. “You’ve been out for two days. Luckily it’s just a mild concussion.”
“Who brought me in?” Mara’s throat felt like sandpaper.
“Your husband,” the nurse said, adjusting the drip rate. “You were covered in blood when you got here–he was going out of his mind, nearly tore the whole hospital apart. But weird thing is, soon as the doctor said you’d wake up soon, he rushed off saying he had some emergency.”
Mara closed her eyes, a bitter smile tugging at her lips.
Not weird at all. After all, he’d never let her see even a hint of what he really felt.
20:20
