Page 10 of The Rancher’s Wedding Betrayal (Billionaires of Evergreen, Texas #17)

HUNTER WASN'T SURE how much time had passed. It was as if he’d blacked out, and as the jealous rage faded, he staggered to a halt, finding himself in the stables, of all places.

His first thought: Another scene of the crime...

But he caught himself in time.

Remembered what he had learned of her.

Remembered how his pride had made him accuse her wrongly—

What the fuck have I done?

His Evelline had thrown away her pride, had begged for a chance to explain.

But instead he had walked away.

What the fuck have I done?

He looked around him, and all he could see was her.

Morning coffee on the porch. Evelline in his arms. And Evelline, oh God...giving him the ring that he had thrown away.

His finger felt naked, wrong without the silver band she’d crafted for him. When had it become so much a part of him?

“Sir?”

Relief slammed into him upon hearing his driver's voice, and he started breathing a bit more easily. “Luther, thank fuck. You haven’t left—”

“I didn’t know I was supposed to go anywhere.” The older man’s weathered face creased with concern, taking in Hunter’s disheveled appearance and wild eyes.

"Janelle didn't tell you? Evelline—"

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Mr. Ferguson," Luther interrupted uneasily. "Matt’s outside. Says he needs to speak with you.”

Something violent surged inside of him upon hearing the other man's name, but this time—

No more.

He was done letting his anger fuck things up.

"Send him in."

This time, he would choose to hear the other man out—

A red-faced and sniveling Matt came to face him.

No matter mat.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Ferguson.” Matt’s voice trembled. “You’ve always been so good to me, but I... I...”

The entire story came tumbling out, and Hunter felt sick to his stomach as he listened to the younger man talk about Janelle seducing him eight years ago and blackmailing him later with videos of their time together.

“But I can’t take it anymore.” Matt’s hands shook as he handed over his phone, allowing Hunter to read his cousin's threatening texts. The videos Janelle had taken were there, too, and God, oh God...

“I can’t hurt Eve again, Mr. F-Ferguson. Not when it was never her fault..."

Indeed, it never was. The one at fault was Hunter, for being blind to who Janelle was all this time.

..while choosing to turn his back on Evelline the moment things became less than perfect.

And he had done it because it was just fucking easier.

Just fucking safer to throw her out...rather than letting his feelings for her grow out of control.

"I p-pretended to force myself on her—”

Something snapped inside Hunter, his fist connecting with Matt's jaw the moment he heard the younger man's confession, and he remembered the look on his Evelline's face.

No, fuck, no.

He had seen she was afraid.

But at that time, he had only thought she had been afraid of him...for being caught cheating.

How the hell could he have been so fucking blind?

Hunter wanted to beat the younger man into a bloody pulp, but the way Matt only stumbled back and continued crying told him it would be pointless. Matt had obviously learned his lesson while Hunter...he was the one who had hurt Evelline the most with his lack of trust.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Ferguson. I'm s-so sorry."

Hunter asked Luther to take the younger man away.

“Get him sorted with HR tomorrow. Basic reference, separation pay, whatever he needs to start fresh. His mother’s medical treatment, how much it would cost for him to take a couple months off to look after her.

Give them everything they need. Just make sure they're out of Texas by tomorrow.”

He watched Luther lead Matt out of the stables, but this time, all he could see was Janelle with her innocent face. All her life, she had acted like this angel who didn't want their money. But he realized now it was all for fucking show.

Janelle had known she would have inherited everything if Hunter were not to marry or have children. His cousin would have also known that he wasn't the type to leave her penniless even if he did end up having his own family.

But Janelle, it seemed, was such a fucking narcissist that she wanted the world to think she didn't care about money...even if she did. She had wanted her fucking cake, but she had also wanted to eat it. And that was why she had gone through all these lengths to get rid of—

Fuck.

Panic hit him out of the blue.

Where the fuck was Evelline?

He called his head of security, demanding for their last sighting of Evelline, and the other man's answer made his blood run cold.

“Miss Ramirez left with Miss Montgomery about twenty minutes ago, sir. In Miss Kemp's car.”

The phone slipped from Hunter’s numb fingers.

No, fuck, no.

Janelle was fucking psychotic. He knew that now. But could his cousin be crazy enough to make an attempt at Evelline's life?

Blood pounded in his ears as images of what Janelle might do flooded his mind. He couldn't remember feeling this fucking helpless...that all he could do was squeeze his eyes shut.

Just like Evelline had taught him to do, not so many days ago, when she had told him about how everything had changed for her—

I know how stupid this sounds, but I thank God for letting my life hit rock bottom. It sucked to lose everything, but it was also at the worst point in my life that I realized what really mattered. That He was always there, always was, always would be...and so I never have to be alone again.

—when she stopped being afraid because of God.

And this time, it was his turn.

If You're real, please...

Because just like Evelline, he stood to lose everything, and he had no one to turn to but Hod.

Help me find her.

Help me take her back.

Please.

THE HIGHWAY STRETCHED endlessly ahead, twin ribbons of asphalt cutting through Texas scrubland. She tried to make sense of where they were or where they were heading, but all she could do was stare blankly through the windshield of Janelle's SUV.

Eventually, she could feel the numbness that had taken her body captive start wearing off, and with it, her shock faded.

Her mind clicked back into gear like an old engine reluctantly turning over...and that was when all the memories came rushing back.

Don’t fucking touch me again.

If you’re still here in the next hour, I’ll have you arrested

But worst of all...

Please... I’m b-begging you.

She remembered herself begging, and Hunter continuing to walk away as if it didn't matter to him that she had thrown away her pride just like he had asked.

She had begged for a chance to explain, but he hadn't even looked back.

Bile rose in her throat. Eve wanted to throw up. She wanted to scream until her voice gave out. But instead, she found herself closing her eyes.

Please, God, please.

Hunter had promised he wouldn't hurt her like this again, but he had.

Help me.

She had needed his help after being attacked. Needed Hunter to make her feel safe. But instead he had thrown her out of his ranch. Matt had just...had just...

Oh God, please.

Eve couldn’t even make herself put it in words. She was hurting so much that all she could do—

Please save me.

—was have her soul cry the words out over and over.

I need You.

Not because the words had turned into a mindless chant—

Please .

But because she remembered it was less than a month ago when her entire world seemed to crash down on her.

Save me.

He alone was there to catch her.

Don’t let this destroy me.

And she believed with all of her heart that He’d catch her again.

“I just can’t believe he did that to you...”

Eve felt like she was waking from a dream as Janelle's voice eventually penetrated her thoughts.

"Like, how?"

It seemed as if Janelle had been talking all this time, but the empty hole in her heart had blocked everything out, and Eve hadn't heard a single thing.

“I know he’s my cousin, but he can be so cruel when he’s hurt,” Janelle continued, her voice soft with apparent sympathy. “He always sees things in black and white.”

No , Eve thought painfully. Hunter wasn’t cruel. He never was, not even when she had been difficult during her rebellious years.

“How can he not see what really happened?” Janelle sighed, her hands delicate on the steering wheel. “Anyone with eyes could tell Matt attacked you.”

Hunter would never be cruel deliberately.

“I can’t believe he’d throw you out like this without hearing your side. After everything you’ve been through together these past few weeks.”

He just...didn’t trust her.

“How could he forget you’re homeless? Broke? You still haven’t found a job, have you?” Janelle shook her head sadly. “This is just like that thing about Midnight eight years ago—”

Eve froze.

“He didn’t have any proof you did it. You never admitted to anything. How could you have known the stall would be unlocked unless—” Janelle broke off when she noticed Eve staring at her.

“What is it, Eve?”

The concern in the other woman’s tone made her want to cry...

Janelle signaled and pulled onto the shoulder of the highway, the gravel crunching beneath the tires. “Are you okay?”

Because this was the first time she realized everything was fake.

“What are you getting from this, Janelle?” she asked shakily.

Hunter’s cousin blinked, her blue eyes wide with apparent confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Mom told me that Hunter had everyone at the ranch sign an NDA.” Eve’s voice grew stronger as pieces fell into place. “No one was to know about what happened to Midnight.”

Because even then, even when he had blamed her for what happened to his beloved stallion, he hadn’t wanted to take any chances and have anyone talk about it and cause trouble for her.

“Well, of course Hunter told me. I’m family—”

“Hunter doesn’t lie.”

“Oh, Eve.” Janelle’s voice took on a patronizing edge. “You’re obviously in love with my cousin, and I understand. But he’s not perfect—”

Eve shook her head. “Just tell me why—"

"What the fuck, Eve? Are you actually calling me a liar?"

The Janelle she knew never cursed. But maybe...she had never really known Janelle. At all.

"What do you think my cousin would do when I tell him about this conversation? Especially after everything? You're nothing to him now while I'm his only family—”

Everything became clear as soon as she heard those words.

“You wanted to get rid of me,” Eve whispered, her heart pounding in her chest, “because if I became his wife, you think you'll no longer inherit anything.”

“Stop saying crazy things—”

“You could have just been honest with him,” Eve said helplessly. “Why did you have to go through all these lengths—”

Janelle pressed a button that unlocked Eve’s door. Outside, eighteen-wheelers roared past at seventy miles an hour, the SUV rocking slightly in their wake.

"Hunter was right to kick you out." Janelle's voice was tight. "I can't believe this is how you're treating me when I've always taken your side. Get out of my car. Now ."