Page 176 of Scandalous Contract

“No, you shouldn’t have said that,” I told him. “And since you did, it makes me wonder what else you’d reveal if we were in a heated argument. What if India were around when we argued? It’s too risky. Ican’tdo this.”

“Stefanie,” he said, his voice cracking as he reached for me again.

I pulled away. “Please leave, Julian.”

He shook his head, taking a step forward.

“Don’t make me call the police,” I whispered.

His jaw tightened. “Do I look like I give a damn about the police?”

“I already told you,” I said, eyes glistening, “I can’t do this. I realized I don’t love you.”

“You do,” he said quickly, desperately. “You’re just overthinking things again, love.”

“No, I’m not,” I lied, and it ripped something inside me to say it. “I’ve had time to think. Time away from you. And I realized it was just sex. I wanted you for the sex. The sex is amazing. I was in love with the dick, not you.”

“That’s not true,” he told me, eyes locked on mine, like he could pull the truth from my soul.

“It is true,” I insisted, even as my heart cried out that it wasn’t. “Being away from you, I was able to clear my head and take a long look at my life. The future I want doesn’t include you.”

“Then why are there tears spilling down your cheeks?” he asked softly, reaching toward my face.

I wiped them away quickly. “Because I feel horrible for leading you on, for making you think I was in love. I’m sorry, Julian. I’m sorry I can’t be the woman you need me to be.”

“You’re exactly what I need,” he whispered.

“But you’re not what I need,” I whispered back.

I watched his heart break. Watched it collapse in his eyes as he took another step back, like he couldn’t breathe.

“I’m sorry,” I said again. “Please let me go, Julian. Forget about me.”

“Never,” he whispered. “But I will leave because I don’t want your daughter to overhear us. I’ll leave because I know you wouldn’t want her to see us like this. But I’m not letting you go.”

“You are,” I said quietly.

“I’m not. I can’t.”

“You have no choice,” I told him. “Please move your stuff out of my house. I won’t come home until I see on my cameras that you’ve moved out. Leave the key on the counter. I’ll use the keypad to get in and...”

“Why are you doing this?” he asked, broken. “Are you trying to destroy me?”

A sob escaped before I could stop it. “I’m going inside now. Be moved out by tonight, Julian. And don’t come by here or my house again.”

“Stefanie. Stefanie!”

I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. I went back into the house, closed the door behind me, and the second the lock clicked, I collapsed. Ronnie was at my side in seconds, kneeling next to me on the floor.

His arms wrapped around me as I shook, sobs wracking my body. Outside, Julian banged on the door, calling my name. Each knock sent a jolt of pain through my heart, through my soul.

“You didn’t have to end things with him, Stef,” Ronnie whispered, rubbing my back.

“I did, Ron,” I sobbed. “I did. The day I decided to take India home, I made the decision to put her first. I can’t change my mind about that just because I’ve finally found love. That wouldn’t be fair to her.”

“Putting her first doesn’t mean giving in to her all the time, Stef. You can put her firstandput yourself first.”

I shook my head, unable to speak past the sobs. I’d made my choice. I’d broken the heart of a man who loved me with everything he had. And as much as it burned through my soul, maybe this was what I deserved