Page 122 of Beautiful Lies

“Because it was inappropriate.”

“At least I tried. I even had to deal with your husband’s monster of a brother, who threw me out on my ass.”

God… that sounds like Dorian. He’s like a Bond villain, except he doesn’t send henchmen. He does all the dirty work himself. “You shouldn’t have come. And you definitely shouldn’t have given me that gift.”

“Did he see it? Knox?”

“Of course, he did.”

Chad’s jaw clenches, and he sets his arms down on the table. “I’m just trying. I told you I wouldn’t give up. It makes me want to try harder when I find you here all by yourself walking the streets of Italy, looking sad when you should be happy.”

This is just perfect.

Exactly what I needed.

More complications. More eyes on me. More of the wrong man showing up at the worst possible moment.

I lean forward and stare at him. It’s time to get to the heart of this matter and say what I need to say. “You’re not really here for business, are you?”

He leans back and takes a swig of his iced tea. “What do you think?”

My shoulders tense with the truth. “I think you need to stop whatever you think you’re doing because it won’t work. You shouldn’t have come here, Chad. This is crazy.”

His brows snap together in a deep frown. “You don’t love him. You still love me.”

“I love you as myfriend, Chad.Friendship.” I make sure I place emphasis on my words, so he knows I mean them. “That isthe only reason I’m sitting here.Thatwas the only reason I kept contact with you after you left.Friendship.”

“We’ve been friends forever, but I refuse to believe this is it for us.”

“I’m married.” I wince, trying to keep my voice down.

“For now.” He gives me a clipped nod. “You are marriedfor now. It won’t last, babe. You can’t trust men like Knox Vale.”

His words hit me deeper than I should allow. It’s stupid because I already know how my story with Knox will end. It’s like watching a sad movie again and again, each time hoping for a different ending.

“You and I would have lasted.” He nods with a gentle smile.

“But we didn’t.”

“Because I fucked up.” He presses a finger into the smooth groves in the table. “Had I not been so foolish, we would have been married already. You can’t tell me any different, Isla.”

I think for a moment, taking my mind back to when we were together.

We were so in love. So, so in love. But there was something missing. But I didn’t realize it at the time. I only noticed it when he left.

We had no chemistry. We had no spark. We had no fire.

There was love, but that was it.

I wanted a man who fought for me. Who showed up when it mattered.

A man whose first instinct was me.

I wanted a man who could make me lose my mind and get lost in him.

Someone who would choose me—loudly, unapologetically, without hesitation.

A man who would walk through hell just to stand beside me. And if I’m to break Madame Corvina’s elusive curse, I’d need someone who’d love me enough to bleed for me.