Forbidden Fate (Crowne Point 3)

* * *

Grayson spun, eyes wide.

“Story—what—” He broke off, rubbing his jaw, looking around the small closet like someone else was going to pop out.

“You tried to divorce her? When?”

I stared at Grayson, waiting for him to say something—anything—after what I’d just heard.

Silence spread.

“Right after I learned you were pregnant,” he finally said. “My grandfather asked me what I was willing to lose. And I thought about it…. Everything but you. My fortune. My family.” He paused. “My wife.”

He let that linger.

“I…would lose her if it meant keeping you safe. So I did…only you came back married to West, and everything changed.”

I wasn’t sure if that filled me with happiness or sadness. I went with anger. I tried to push past him, and he grabbed my arm.

“Let me go.”

“I’m done letting you go.”

I tried to yank my arm, but he dragged me to him.

We were so close.

“Why didn’t you tell me the truth about being a mistress, about your family, about this, about everything?

“Why do you think I pushed you away?” he yelled. “I tried to get you out of this world. Away from us. Away from me.”

I clutched my stomach. “Am I in danger?”

He ground his jaw. “If they find out about you…yes.”

My chest bottomed out.

Fear.

Raw, breathless fear.

“Why didn’t you tell me? Why are you always lying?”

“What good would it have done, Snitch?”

“I could have—” I broke off, mashing my lips together.

What could I have done that Grayson Crowne couldn’t?

He brought my head into his hands. “This is my weight to bear. I’d rather you were safe and happy and away from me, than with me and unhappy like everyone—or worse, dead.”

“I would have hated you less,” I whispered.

His thumbs dug into my cheeks. “You should hate me more, little nun.”

“You want honesty from me, but you keep so many secrets. This whole time you had this huge fucking secret. How many others are you keeping?”

“What if I failed, Snitch?” His brows drew and he looked away, like he was embarrassed.