Page 115 of The Surrender

My stomach drops as I push Jude’s hands away from me, moving back. “Is it true?” I ask him, knowing before he can answer that it is. All the signs are there.I didn’t expect to fall in love with you.“Oh my God.”You’re the biggest surprise in this situation.What about the bet?

“Amelia, I’m begging you, please,” Jude whispers. “Just let me explain.”

“Then explain!” I yell, staring at his pathetic form, his arms limp by his sides, his face a picture of sorrow. It makes me sick.

“I gave his family some inaccurate financial advice.” Nick pushes his way to his feet.

“You fucking robbed him,” Jude grates, an inferno blazing in his eyes. He looks like he’s going to burst with the pressure. And then he does. “He was on the verge of losing everything!” He goes for Nick again, rabid, pulling his fist back, and I watch, horrified, but Jude lowers his arm and comes back to me. “Nick fucked everything up, Amelia,” he says, feeling at my face. “Everything.”

“You wanted revenge?” The floodgates of my mind open, too much information and too many realizations hitting me. “You used me to get revenge?”

Jude looks away, ashamed.

“Oh Jesus,” I croak, feeling at my throat. It’s closing up on me. “The bet. Katherine said I was a bet.”

His face twists. “She knew about Nick and what he did to my family.”

“Because you were engaged to her at the time.” My voice is so quiet. So defeated.

“I didn’t want her to know who you were. I knew she’d tell you.” He closes his eyes briefly, taking in air to spit out his truths. “She wasn’t supposed to be at the restaurant with me that night. She invited herself along and noticed I was distracted.” He grabs a breath. “I went along with the bet because that’s what I fucking do, Amelia.”

He likes the chase. The game. He made me just like any other girl he’s bet on.

I’m going to throw up. “You sick bastard,” I whisper, panic falling into me fast, tears stinging the backs of my eyes.Do not let him see you cry.“And you?” I turn my fury onto Nick. “Stay away from me.”

I’ve got to get out of here.

I walk in circles, my brain failing to give me instructions. The Jaguar. It’s not mine. But it’s my only option.

“Amelia, wait,” Jude says, fretful, as I pace towards the car.

My head’s going to explode. I yank the door open and drop to the seat, but I don’t get it closed before Jude’s blocking it. “Leave me alone,” I yell, fighting against him, trying to close the door, but his strength is far superior to mine.

“No, you have to listen to me.”

His words tip me over the edge I’ve been balancing on, and I fly out of the car like a mad bitch, shoving him away. “It’s all a fucking lie!” I scream, losing control of my temper. It’s better than crying on him. “I hate you, Jude. I fucking hate you.” He has the nerve to look hurt. So I shove him again. “Never come near me again.” I know my face spells the hate I feel. “Ever.”

I drop into the seat and pull away, forcing myself not to put my foot down and speed off. My heart squeezes, every second of my time with Jude parading through my head as I drive.

Torturing me.

And the tears pour down my cheeks, hitting my lap in fat drops.

I surrendered.

And now I’m destroyed.

Chapter 23

Abbie’s face drops like a rock when she opens the door and sees the state of me, the tears still relentlessly falling. “Oh fuck.” Her arms envelop me, hugging me as I sob.

“It was all a fucking lie,” I say through my tears, the humiliation and hurt blending. “I was just part of a sick game.”

“What?” she breathes, pulling back and looking at me, rubbing my eyes. It’s pointless, more tears replacing the ones she’s wiped away on my cheeks. “The bet?”

“No.” Revenge is so much worse than being a bet. “He was using me to get back at Nick.”

Eyes like saucers, she stares at me in shock, waiting for me to go on.