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"You have no idea what I’m thinking."
"Can you let me explain?"
"The only explanation I need, you already gave me: you didn’t want me for who I am but because I 'serve' your purposes. Don’t ever come near me again. I don’t want to see you anymore. In fact, I want to forget you ever existed."
Athanasios
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
“You’re not just goingto turn your back and walk away, Brooklyn. I don’t leave things unfinished. I know you married a bastard who lied to you, but I’m not him, dammit!”
The door was already open, but she spins around, shocked. “You lied to me.”
“No, I didn’t tell you about my plans. That’s completely different.”
“Maybe in your world, Athanasios, but in mine, omission and lies are the same.”
“It wasn’t an omission. We never even talked about the future.”
“Yourfuture, right? Febe told me you can’t have kids and that’s why you chose me—because I already have the twins.”
“What?”
“You played dirty! You even gave them a dog!”
I look at her like I’m seeing her for the first time.
I know I’m an arrogant, selfish bastard. I’m self-centered and have a deep disdain for most of the damn world, but to thinkBrooklyn sees me as someone unscrupulous enough to approach her because of her children hits a painful nerve inside me.
It’s not even the lie that miserable Febe told about me being unable to have kids that’s driving me mad right now. I’ll deal with her later.
This is about Brooklyn. About us.
Yes, I started my relationship with her planning to secure a marriage of convenience, but what’s been happening between us these past few days has nothing to do with that anymore.
“Look at me, Brooklyn.” She lifts her head, tears in her eyes, but I don’t let myself be moved. “I wanted a marriage of convenience because I never thought I could get involved with someone to the point of wanting to marry for any reason other than to build a family. But I would never use your kids. I would never use you.”
She looks at me, maybe trying to figure out if I’m serious, but this conversation is over.
“I’ll send a message asking security to take you home. We’ll talk, but not today. Not now. We’re both unstable, and I have things to deal with first. Don’t think for a second, though, that we’re done.”
“I don’t think we need to talk anymore.”
“A relationship isn’t just about what you think. We’re a couple.”
She doesn’t say another word and walks out of my office.
Everything in me screams to follow her, but I know we both need space right now.
Besides, I’m furious. There’s someone who needs to hear from me far more urgently than Brooklyn does.
I grab my phone almost immediately after the door closes, and it rings only twice before my mother answers.
“Athanasios, what a surprise!”
“Never interfere in my life like this again.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”