Chapter 22
Adrian wasn’t expecting it and stumbled backward, blood starting to drip from his lip.
“Back off!” Chris stepped between them, his eyes cutting like knives, his voice full of threat. “Touch her again and I’m calling 911.”
Adrian wiped the blood away and shot Chris this dark look, then turned his attention back to Riley.
Her expression hadn’t changed at all, like this whole scene had nothing to do with her.
“So that’s how it is…” Adrian laughed, but it sounded nasty, his eyes all twisted up with feelings. “You dumped me for this guy?”
Riley got to her feet, dusted off her dress even though it was perfectly clean, her voice totally flat: “Adrian, you really think the world revolves around you, don’t you?”
“I didn’t leave because of anybody else.”
Adrian’s eyes went wide and it felt like someone had just punched him in the gut, making it hard to catch his breath: “Then why’d you bail? What we had together…”
“We never had anything.” Riley cut him off and finally looked up at him, her stare cold as ice. “Adrian, did you forget? I only stayed with you those three years for the money and my freedom. The deal’s done now. We’re even.”
“Even?” Adrian’s voice was practically a growl. “Riley, you really think we can just call it even?”
“What else?” She let out this cold laugh, her eyes totally empty. “Did you actually think I loved you?”
Adrian’s face went white like he’d been stabbed. He opened his mouth but couldn’t get any words out.
She was right–she’d never once said she loved him.
Even when he kept hurting her, she just took it quietly, never showing she gave a damn.
But he’d been stupid enough to think her kindness and patience meant she cared.
E
“Riley, let’s get out of here.” Chris put his arm around her shoulders, his voice gentle but his eyes watching Adrian like a hawk.
Riley nodded and started to walk away.
“Hold up!” Adrian shot forward to grab her wrist, but Chris cut him off.
“Back the hell off.” Chris’s voice could freeze water.
Adrian’s eyes went black with rage, his hands balled up so tight they were shaking: “Who the fuck are you to get in the middle of this?!”
“Middle of what?” Riley finally spun around, her eyes full of contempt. “Adrian, you forget something? Your little girlfriend Elena’s probably waiting for you back home.”
“Elena and I aren’t together!” Adrian was practically yelling. “That whole thing was screwed up! I can explain everything-‘
“Save it.” Riley shut him down, her voice eerily calm. “Whatever drama you’ve got going on with her is none of my business.”
She stopped for a second, her face going stone cold: “Adrian, I’m gonna say this one final time–I never gave a shit about you. Never.”
Those words slammed into him like a freight train. He couldn’t breathe, like someone had just thrown him into an ice bath.
Her
Riley didn’t even glance back, walking away with Chris right beside her. She looked completely done, like the two of them had never even met.
23:05
Longhi, umest
3 Years as Your Backup Wife, 1 Text to Crash Your World: ‘Guess Which Twin Left?”
Chapter 22
Adrian just stood there watching her get smaller and smaller until she was gone, his chest on fire with this pain and rage he’d never felt before.
He wasn’t buying it.
No way she’d never given a damn about him.
No way all that caring and everything she’d done for him was bullshit.
“Riley Wells!” He suddenly yelled after her, his voice completely shot. “You think you can just walk away? Hell no!”
Riley kept walking like she hadn’t heard a thing, didn’t even look back.
Adrian punched the nearest tree so hard his knuckles split open and started bleeding.
The pain in his hand was nothing compared to what felt like his chest getting ripped apart.
He stared down the street where she’d disappeared, his eyes going totally psycho.
“I’m not done with you… not by a long shot!”
23:05
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