“Vienna was diagnosed during your honeymoon. Wasn’t she?” Zach asks carefully, slowly realizing what’s going on.
“Sh-she was diagnosed b-before we got mar-rried.” My heart pounds even today as I tell my brothers how I found Vienna lying unconscious on the street. The hospital assumed I was her husband and the lies continued. “Sh-she couldn’t afford the s-surgery, MRIs, and ever-rything else.”
“Why didn’t you offer her a loan or pay her bills?” Beast asks, his arms crossed over his chest as he listens carefully. “You didn’t have to marry her.”
“Sh-she’s got no one. Fucking no one. It’s-s bad enough th-that she has to go th-through all this, but I couldn’t let her s-suffer alone.”
“Why?” Beast’s one word and questioning stare sends a shiver down my spine.
“Wh-why what?” I ask carefully.
“What’s it to you? She’s a barista who makes coffee for you, and you happened to take her to the hospital. But there wasn’t anything else between you. Or…”
“You like her.” Zach’s eyebrows rise to his forehead. “You liked her even before.”
“Lukas, you fucking knew everything. Didn’t you?” Zander doesn’t wait for Lukas to reply. “And you let him go through with this stupidity?”
“I’m not a k-kid.” My nails dig into my palm.
“Zane is an adult, he has the right to choose who he wants to spend his life with.” Lukas and Zander continue shooting daggers at each other as if it isn’t my life they’re discussing.
“Of course, you of all people would have no problem in this relationship.”
A touch of confusion slices through my anguish when Lukas’ fists clench, and for the first time this evening, I notice a chink in his calm armor.
“Wh-what the fuck d-does that mean?” I ask.
A look passes between Zander and Lukas before my brother shakes his head. “Nothing.” He then turns to face me. “So, you like her?”
Like would be an extreme disservice of my true feelings for my wife. But there’s no reason for anyone to know them. Not even my brothers. “I d-don’t want to t-talk about it. You just need t-to know that we’re getting a d-divorce. Th-that’s how it w-was planned.”
Zander doesn’t let it go. “And we’re to take your word for it, especially knowing how you feel about her?”
But his words feel as if someone is pushing a dagger into my heart or skinning me alive. “Yes-s, you fucking are. Th-this is my life, and I can choose to marry and d-divorce whoever I fucking w-want, even if I like them or love them.”
I storm out of Beast’s office, but not before hearing Zach groan, “Fucking hell!”
Once outside, I realize my car is still at the hospital.
Goddammit!
I turn around. In the doorway of Beast’s office stands Zander as he grips Lukas’ collar.
Any other day, I’d intervene and try to calm everyone down, but today, I don’t have the courage or the patience.
I knew my marriage with Vienna had an end date, yet I wasn’t able to prepare myself for today. Her soft smiles, gentle touch, burning passion, and the sensual feel of her around me—everything felt so real. It was fucking impossible to even imagine how life could be without her.
I jerk my head toward Lukas, who shakes out of my brother’s grip. “Can you dr-rop me at th-the hospital? My car is s-still there.” He nods and slips out without saying a word.
* * *
It’s been a few minutes since Lukas parked his car next to my Bugatti, but I can’t step out.
“How are you?” he asks gently, both of us looking to the parked cars before us.
“On th-the outside, I s-sense a black cloud sur-rrounding me. I feel it’ll slowly s-swallow me, and I’ll never see th-the light again.” My mouth dries, and Lukas hands me a water bottle.
I take a few gulps and hand it back to him.