Chapter 13
Colette’s voice trembled with raw emotion as she faced Matt. “She wants you, Matt! And I don’t believe you’re completely blind to her feelings!” Her eyes bore into his, searching for any sign of remorse or guilt. She saw a faint flush spread across his cheeks–a silent confirmation. “You’re too sharp not to have noticed how she feels about you. Yet here you are, fighting with me to keep her by your side. Do you enjoy it, Matt? Do you enjoy having two women fight
over you? Does it give you an ego boost?”
Matt’s silence was deafening, but Colette pressed on. “Answer me!”
“That’s not true!” Matt finally broke his silence, his voice hoarse and strained. He met her fiery gaze, realizing he needed to change his approach if he had any hope of reaching her. “Maybe I was aware of Iris’s feelings. I knew she had a little crush on me. She asked me out for coffee twice when she first started working for me.” He paused, his eyes pleading with Colette to understand. “But I shot her down both times and made sure she knew there could never be anything between us but a professional relationship. And that was nine years ago! She has never done anything like that since. She works hard for my company- His words were abruptly cut off by Zoe’s sarcastic laughter echoing from the bedroom.
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“And I swear, I have never slept with her.” Matt’s voice softened, almost pleading. Zoe’s snort of disbelief from behind the closed door cut through the tension. Colette stood there, torn between wanting to believe him and the nagging doubts that gnawed at her heart. Maybe he hadn’t physically cheated, but there were worse kinds of infidelity than sex. Matt was undeniably closer to his secretary emotionally than he was to her, and to Colette, that was a
betrayal.
As the realization settled over her, a surge of determination replaced her despair. If Matt couldn’t understand the pain of emotional betrayal, then maybe he needed a taste of his own medicine. She straightened her back, her resolve hardening. “Maybe it’s time for you to see what it feels like, Matt, she thought, a plan forming in her mind.
Colette’s voice was a mixture of anger and pain. “So, Iris has never been anything but professional to you? Does that mean she has never said anything about me? Never unintentionally hinted at how stupid I am or what an attention–seeking child you married?” She watched as Matt’s face turned a deeper shade of red, confirming her worst fears. His guilt was evident. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but Colette cut him off, her patience worn thin. “No, Matt. That’s enough! Come back to me when you’ve gotten rid of your ice–cold bitch secretary, and not a second before.”
The room fell silent, the tension thick and oppressive. They stood facing each other like adversaries about to duel. Colette’s heart pounded, each beat echoing the hurt and betrayal she felt.
After a long, tense silence, Matt’s eyes turned dark and emotionless, filled with empty aggression. “And what if I refuse to dance to your tune? And don’t give in to your madness of blackmail?” His words were like daggers, each one piercing Colette’s heart. She recoiled internally at the word “blackmail,” knowing she wasn’t trying to manipulate him. She was simply at her wits‘ end.
“You mean, if you keep your secretary?” Colette’s voice was steady but filled with sorrow. “Then I wish you a happy life with her. Just send me the divorce papers when you make your decision.” The words were like poison on her tongue, each one painful to utter. But she stood her ground, determined to protect herself from further emotional harm.
Matt’s eyes flared with a mix of bitterness and anger. The tension in the room was palpable, an invisible force pressing down on both of them. He turned abruptly, storming out of the flat and slamming the door behind him. The sound echoed through the apartment, a final punctuation to their heated exchange.
As the door closed, Colette felt the weight of the confrontation settle over her. The pain was beyond anything she had imagined. Her legs gave way, and she sank to the floor, broken sobs wracking her body. The enormity of what had just happened crashed down on her like a tidal wave. She had given Matt an ultimatum, and now she had to face the reality of what that might mean.
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- μπ
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The End Of a Marriage
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
