Page 8 of The Rancher’s Wedding Betrayal (Billionaires of Evergreen, Texas #17)

EIGHT YEARS AGO

“You really don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to," Hunter's cousin said softly.

Eve stared out at the Ferguson ranch’s sprawling pastures, visible through the sunroom windows. She hadn’t meant to reveal so much. Hadn’t planned on saying anything at all about her past. But something about Janelle’s quiet confession had broken through her defenses.

“It’s fine,” Eve said, even though it wasn’t. It never would be.

“I just want you to know you can trust me.” Janelle set her cup down with a delicate clink.

Everything about the other woman was delicate, and Eve low-key envied her for it.

She wished she could be even half as feminine, but most times, she was just a natural smart-mouthed klutz.

“I meant what I said earlier. About working for what I have, not living off my family’s money. ”

Eve nodded. She hadn’t expected to like any of Hunter’s relatives, but Janelle was different. There was something refreshingly honest about her determination to make her own way despite her family’s wealth.

“My father was an investment banker." Eve's tone was stilted. She couldn't even remember the last time she had spoken about him. "He worked for a company called Plus Financial."

Janelle folded her hands in her lap, her blue eyes fixed on Eve with gentle encouragement.

“When I was fifteen, the FBI raided our house. Took him away in handcuffs.” Eve’s throat tightened at the memory. “He was charged with running a pyramid scheme that bankrupted hundreds of people.”

“Oh, Eve.” Janelle looked distress on her behalf.

“He kept saying he was innocent, that his boss was the mastermind, that he didn’t know.” Eve’s fingernails dug into her palms. “But nobody believed him. He begged in court—literally got down on his knees and begged the judge to believe him.”

The image was seared into her memory. Her father, once proud and strong, reduced to tears on the courtroom floor while cameras flashed and reporters scribbled notes.

“Two months into his sentence, he hung himself in his cell.”

Janelle reached across the table and squeezed Eve’s hand. The gesture was so unexpected, so gentle, that Eve found herself continuing.

“Six months later, they found evidence proving he was telling the truth. His boss had set him up, used him as a scapegoat.” Eve’s tone grew tight with unshed tears. “They cleared his name. Posthumously. As if that fixed anything.”

“I’m so sorry,” Janelle whispered.

“After that, I just...” Eve shrugged, trying to disguise how much the memory still hurt. “I changed. Got into fights at school. Argued with teachers. Mom finally moved us from Phoenix to San Antonio after I graduated high school. Thought a fresh start would help.”

“Is that why you clash with Hunter so much?” Janelle asked. “Because he reminds you of powerful men like your father’s boss?”

HUNTER WATCHED HIS Evelline laugh at something Janelle said, her green eyes sparkling in the candlelight.

She looked so content, so trusting, as she shared stories about her morning with the horses.

She looked exactly like someone who didn't yet know how her fiancé had distrusted her so damn much.

..he had ended up asking dirt from the same woman she was now enjoying a conversation with.

And he’d texted Janelle behind her back, asking for dirt about her past with Matt.

He took a long sip of wine, trying to wash away the acid taste of guilt. The silver band on his finger caught the light, and something inside him twisted at the sight.

“Matt mentioned you’ve been helping him in the stables..."

Janelle's words to Evelline drew him out of his thoughts.

"You two are quite close, aren't you?"

Hunter stiffened, realizing what his cousin was up to.

"We are, yes."

Even though Evelline's tone as she answered Janelle was of casual honesty, Hunter was still determined to shut things down from here. He shot a look of warning at his cousin, and it was enough.

Janelle checked her watch and pretended surprise. "I didn't realize it was so late." She glanced at Hunter, asking, "Should we get on with the business proposal I told you about?"

Hunter gave her a clipped nod. "Wait for me in my study."

Eve waited until Janelle had left before turning to Hunter. "You were rather abrupt with your cousin," she noted in concern. "Is something wrong?"

Everything, Hunter thought broodingly. Everything was wrong the moment he had doubted his Evelline, but he would make sure to fix that tonight. He would tell Janelle he had been wrong, come clean to Evelline, and hopefully...she would still be willing to marry him afterwards.

But for now...

"It's just ranch business, nothing for you to worry about."

He had to force himself to lie to the woman he loved.

Eve touched his cheek, still troubled by the taut expression on his handsome face. "Sure?"

"I promise."

And because he didn't want to keep lying to her, he could only end the conversation by pulling her close and covering Evelline's mouth in a hard, deep kiss that had her hands coming up to clutch his shoulders.

Hunter intended to walk Evelline back to her room afterward, but she shook her head, saying, "You've already kept Janelle waiting long enough."

Before he could say a word, Evelline surprised him by raising herself on her toes and placing a quick, shy kiss on his cheek.

What the—

"See you later!"

His last glimpse of his fiancée as she raced up the stairs was her delectably pink cheeks, and it was the most fucking adorable thing...as well as something he completely didn't deserve.

Janelle was on her phone when he joined her in his study, and he caught her hitting Send in a hurry before pocketing her phone.

"Everything alright?" he questioned.

"Just office stuff, it's fine.

"Anything I can help with?" He had always admired his cousin's insistence on being independent, but also wanted Janelle to remember that his family was there for her, always.

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" Janelle's tone was wry. "Then again, with what I've seen of you two together...I take it all's well between you two again?"

"I should never have sent you that text." Hunter's tone was stiff. He was not used to owing up to any mistakes like this, mostly because he always got things right the first try. It was only with his Evelline, unfortunately, that he often got things wrong.

"Why did you then?" Janelle looked at him chidingly. "It's been eight years, you know. Whatever they were to each other before—"

He cut her off, saying flatly, "They were never anything to each other."

"Hunter..." A delicate frown creased his cousin's face. "I hope you know how much I love Eve. She's, like, the best thing that's ever happened to you. But I don't think it's also right to be blind to things. I didn't imagine those rumors I heard eight years ago—"

"But they were exactly just that. Rumors."

Janelle slowly shook her head. "But I also saw— "

"Drop it, Janelle. I don't want to hear another word."

His cousin's phone chimed at that moment, and Hunter frowned at the way Janelle's face turned expressionless while reading whatever it was on her phone.

"There's obviously something wrong."

Janelle bit her lip. "Am I being that obvious?"

"You've never been good at lying, Janelle. So yes," he said dryly, "you're being that obvious."

"The company offered me a promotion," she explained with a sigh.

"And the catch?"

Her expression turned rueful. "How did you know there'd be one?"

"There always is."

"I'll have to move all the way to Alaska."

And of course, for someone like his cousin who still wore a cardigan even in the hottest of summers, that would be akin to a death sentence.

"Just quit," he decided, "and work for our company."

"Thank you for the offer, but no."

"Start a business then. I'll bankroll you."

Janelle made a face. "You really won't let this go, will you?"

"At least sleep on it before giving me an answer."

"Alright, fine. Now, will you please stop bullying me and just go back to Eve and live happily ever after?"