Page 60 of Endgame

“Aurora left on her own.” Her small voice bounces off the high ceilings.

She sounds full of contempt.

She hates me.

And yet again, she prefers my awful treatment over her family’s.

That’s interesting and?—

Don’t care. I do not care.

“You have no right.” When Winston’s indignant shouting continues, Arnold places a hand over his shoulder. Winston shakes him off before storming to the aisle. “Either of you.”

He’s wrong. I have every right.

Aurora’s fate was sealed the moment I uncovered what Winston did to my family.

I’m not letting him take her away. I’m not letting anyone else touch her.

If he thinks another man would marry Aurora, he’s sorely mistaken.

She won’t walk down the aisle for anyone else. Won’t have anyone else’s ring on her finger. Ever.

Because revenge is all I have, and I won’t let him take it from me.

Loathing burns up my neck as we lock eyes, neither of us backing down.

His intentions are clear. So is my resolve.

I untangle myself from Aurora. A few long strides, and my fingers twist into his collar.

We’re face-to-face, both of us breathing hard.

“I warned you.” I shake the shorter man. His teeth rattle. I wish more than anything to bash them in and end this now. Except he won’t get off that easy. “Aurora is off-limits. Sit your ass down and shut the fuck up. Take what’s coming to you like a man.”

His eyes lose focus, rage morphing into confusion at my mistake. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Fuck, I let it slip. Thinking fast, I slam him down onto the stone bench before he can ask any more questions.

“Stay put.” He turns purple when I point a finger at him. “You’re wasting my time. Your daughter and I have a long night ahead of us.”

I could’ve said I have a virgin pussy to fuck.

Except thatvoice. That incessant whisper begging me not to humiliate her.

Mine. Mine. Mine.

Her mother’s jaw drops. Ivy snickers. Of course she does. Always watching. Always amused.

My future father-in-law looks like he’s got another round in him.

“Like it or not, I’m marrying her.” I’m burning on the inside, but all they see is my cold facade. “But keep wasting my time, Winston. See where that gets you.”

The room falls into complete silence. No one breathes a word.

This standoff has been long coming. Years of barely controlled hate have reached a crescendo.

Over time, I let him use me, my company, my connections. I let him believe we were on the same side.