“Were you testing me, too? Was that why you
left?”
I rolled my eyes. “Harkness, I’m not that
twisted. I hid my identity as a bet with my dad
<
and just wanted a peaceful college experience. When we were together, I honestly saw you as
an ordinary guy. You put me through 98 tests? I
actually believed them and did my best to help
you. I have nothing to be ashamed of, I did my best and you were never good enough.”
I didn’t want to argue with him, especially with Jesse glaring at us.
Harkness wasn’t listening. He looked as if he finally understood everything. “I get it. You didn’t fail my 99th test. I never intended to test you at all, but instead pushed you away.”
“I don’t want to break up. We can still be together. I’ve never stopped loving you.”
I was beyond exasperated. “I have a loving husband and a child. You’re engaged to Shannon. What are you even saying?”
Harkness babbled, “I didn’t sign the marriage
<
certificate with Shannon! I was waiting for you
to come back and explain.
“If you apologize, I’ll give you another chance. You still love me, right? I don’t care that you’re married with a kid. We can still be together.”
Shannon’s face crumpled. She stared at us, her
features twisted.
I gave Harkness another withering look. “If
you’d said this before knowing my identity,
maybe I’d think you mean something.”
“But now? It just shows how pathetic and
shallow you are. You wanted to put me through
tests but you failed because you can’t even
show how you feel, you are now reaping what
you sow.”
Harkness, his face pale, tried to say more.
Jesse kicked him three feet across the room.
く
“Harkness, I’ve had enough of your BS. Flirting
with my wife in front of me? You really have a
death wish!
“From now on, anyone associated with the
Covington name is dead to the Valentine’s and
Lincoln’s Family!”
He scanned the room, his voice dripping with
menace. “And everyone who was here today?
You’re all screwed. Start packing for
bankruptcy!”
The blood drained from their faces. They
started begging for mercy.
“Mr. Valentine, we didn’t mean it! Harkness and
Shannon made us do it. She tricked us!”
“Yeah! Shannon said if we roughed up Mrs.
Valentine, she’d introduce us to you!”
“We’re sorry! We’ll do anything to apologize.
<
Please, forgive us!”
They were all throwing Shannon under the bus.
Jesse glared at her, his voice low and deadly.
“I’ll make you regret the day you were born.”
Shannon’s legs gave out. She whimpered,
“Harkness, help me…”
Harkness was too busy saving his own ass. He
hated her now. If she hadn’t started this mess,
he wouldn’t be ruined.
Just then, his phone buzzed with the
investigation results.
The report revealed Shannon had dated five
trust fund babies and three wealthy foreigners
in college. She’d asked the dean about
Harkness’s family, and then dumped her
boyfriend to chase him.
<
It was clear. She was a gold digger.
Harkness, realizing he’d been played for a fool,
slapped her across the face. “Shannon, we’re done! I never want to see you again!”
