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I put on the clothes Derek brought me after my shower.
“Come on, I’ll take you home,” he said flatly, like he had no clue how awkward I felt.
But I knew he was faking it. He knew exactly what went down between me and Ryan. He just wanted to watch me squirm.
“I saw Ryan come back just now.”
Derek raised a brow. “And?”
“You tell me. C’mon, Derek, you think I’m staying because I want to?”
He suddenly stepped in close, arms circling my waist. “Caressa, maybe you should reconsider your marriage partner.
“Ryan doesn’t even like you. Word is, he’s into some student lately. Talking about marriage and everything.
“He doesn’t love you, and he’s not going to marry you. But our families still need this alliance. So, maybe pick someone else.”
What he said stung–but it wasn’t wrong.
My thing with Ryan had held both families together for years. If we split now, everything would blow up.
“I’ll think about it,” I said. It was all I could manage.
The truth is, being tangled up with Ryan for so long it became habit.
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Letting go now? I had no idea how.
I stepped out of his arms. “Just take me out of here.”
When we left, Ryan wasn’t in the room. I didn’t even know what I was feeling guilty about–but I still let out a quiet breath of relief.
I walked fast to the front gate of the Watson’s residence, waiting for Derek to bring the car around.
“Caressa? What are you doing here? Didn’t we agree you’d stop bothering me?” Ryan’s voice came from behind me.
I turned. He looked smug, like he was saying, “See? I knew you couldn’t stay away.”
I couldn’t blame him. I’d let him get away with everything. No matter what he did, I’d find a way to forgive him.
But not this time.
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I opened my mouth to snap back–but the roar of a car engine cut me off.
Derek stepped out of his car, voice dripping with mockery.
“Ms. Mitchell is here to see me. You can go back inside.”
Ryan’s face shifted with shock and confusion,
I quietly stepped back and stood beside Derek. I didn’t have to say a word–my choice was clear.
“Caressa, did you forget what I told you?” Ryan walked up, grabbing my arm, eyes full of disappointment. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”
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Of course I remembered. He’d warned me about Derek–how ruthless he was, how his own father lost everything trying to fight him.
I used to believe that even if Ryan didn’t love me, he at least cared. But the look in his eyes just now? It told me everything.
To him, I wasn’t a person. I was a possession. A pet. He didn’t care unless someone else showed interest.
I yanked my arm free. “No, thanks. Derek’s driving me.”
“Caressa, don’t regret this. If you get in that car, don’t ever come back.”
Derek opened the door for me. Before I got in, I glanced back.
“Next time, show some respect. I’m your aunt.”
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