Page 70 of The Husband Contract

"Listen to me, Willow Montgomery. You decided to play games with my brother, and now I am playing games with you. You're my wife. You see that contract? It's a contract that says that I am your husband, and as your husband, I have certain rights. Certain privileges."

"This can’t be legal. I don’t have to agree to this. I want an annulment or a divorce or whatever. I'm not continuing through this. You're crazy, Sebastian. I want to leave.” I look around for my clothes. "I don’t know what your crazy brother told you, but we weren’t in love. And the fact that you played me, well, you're just as fucking crazy, too. You're a psychopath. You and your brother are both psychopaths."

He grabs my wrists and holds me still. "You really want to leave right now? You really want your world to come crashing in around you?"

"I don’t?—"

"I know who owns Katherine’s parents’ house."

"What are you talking about? The bank?"

"I know the lender. Actually, a good friend of mineknows the mortgage company. Did you know that they are sixty days past due and on a payment plan? Did you know that can be rescinded at any time? That they can go into foreclosure?"

I stare at him.

"Did you know that Brielle’s father works at a factory that one of the men on my board owns? And I know he's looking to do layoffs soon. And did you?—"

"Okay, fine," I say. "What do you want from me? I don’t understand. What do you hope to get from this situation? How could marrying me benefit you or help you in any way? How does that help—" I am about to say Clark Kent, but I don’t. “Sergio in any way?"

"You’ll see," he says.

"So this was all fake," I say again. "I need to know if everything between us was fake or not."

He stares at me.

"It wasn’t real for you. You can’t honestly tell me that the fact that I am a billionaire didn’t once cross your mind?"

"Well, of course, it crossed my mind.

"You thought I was an easy target."

"No, Sebastian. I thought you were my Prince Charming. But I guess I was a fool. You are nothing but an evil bastard."

Chapter Eighteen

Sebastian

I know I shouldn't feel guilty, and I know I shouldn't feel responsible for Willow's feelings, but as I see the tears running down her face, I can't help but feel sorrow. I can't help but feel that this is just one giant mistake.

I don't know if I've taken this too far. In all likelihood, I have. In fact, the truth was probably somewhere in between Sergio's story and Willow’s. The fact of the matter is, if she would just give back the money, or even admit that she took it, I would forget everything. I would give her the divorce, and I would move on with my life. Because frankly, I don't know if this was the right decision. I don't know if I'm playing with fire.

"I need you to get dressed and pack your bags. We're going to go."

"What do you mean, we're going to go?" She rubs her eyes. "I don't understand. Where are we going?"

"We're going to leave now."

"Leave?"

"We're going to New York."

"What do you mean, we're going to New York?"

"We're going back home. You're coming with me to Manhattan."

"I can't come with you to Manhattan. I have to get back to Whispering Haven."

"Tell Katherine and Brielle that you have to take a little break."