Cruel Legacy (Cruel 3)

Isabel bit her lip and looked away. Sloane’s eyes widened as if in disbelief that I didn’t know. But it was Fiona who was the color of a ripe tomato.

“We had an affair,” she whispered.

Jane and I raised our eyebrows at the same time. This wasn’t the first time that I’d heard that Camden had cheated on Katherine. I remembered a particular night at Harmony’s party last year where he’d been high as fuck and looking for a good time. He would have been fine with me that night if Court hadn’t saved me from his clutches.

But this was the first time someone Katherine knew was admitting it.

“When?” Jane asked, leaning forward.

“Like…the last year.”

“Two,” Sloane said.

Fiona glared at her. “On and off forever.”

“And…it’s still going on?” I asked her.

She paused and then shook her head once. “He ended it after the wedding.”

I eyed her doubtfully. Why would Camden end an easy fuck-buddy relationship when he despised Katherine? He didn’t seem the type to give up something convenient.

“You want us to believe it’s really over?” Jane asked, on the same train of thought as me.

“Well, I saw him after he got back from his honeymoon, but he sent me home,” Fiona said. Embarrassment coated her voice.

“He threw her out,” Isabel clarified.

“Like…bodily,” Sloane added.

“Girls,” Fiona groaned.

“Huh,” I said in surprise. “Did Katherine know?”

Fiona’s eyes bulged. “Are you out of your mind? She would kill me.” She glanced sideways. “They’ve always been so….you know?”

I tilted my head because, clearly, I did not.

“In love,” Fiona said. She averted her gaze and frowned.

I laughed softly and then realized she was serious. Fiona thought Katherine and Camden were in love? I glanced around at the rest of her friends…even Jane. They all thought that Katherine and Camden were really together.

Oh god.

The realization hit me like a two-by-four. No one else knew that it was an arranged marriage. It was a crew secret. And I’d happened to be a part of the crew when it all came out. They’d thought I was a nobody when they first told me, and then it was too late. But to the rest of the world, this was real.

It was deeply disturbing. And an edge I hadn’t known that I had.

“They’re in love, and yet you slept with him for years?” I asked Fiona.

“He’s a man of carnal desire,” she whispered.

I nearly gagged and found my eyes dragged back toward Camden Percy. Well, Fiona wasn’t the only person who had slept with Camden since he’d gotten engaged to Katherine. And I doubted she would be the last either. He’d never seemed like the one-woman type, especially since I knew that his feelings for Katherine were a charade.

“Nat,” Jane whispered. She pointed back to the entrance.

It was my time to curse.

Katherine Van Pelt strode into Club 360.

Chapter 28

Natalie

Katherine wore a skintight red dress and mile-high heels. Her dark brown hair was down in waves, and even with her face partially in shadow, it was clear she had on heavy makeup. Her steely gaze swept the dance floor, owning it, and then she walked right into Camden’s arms like they had been waiting for her all along.

We all watched in various forms of shock as they started making out in public. Right there on the dance floor.

Sure, he owned the hotel. He could do whatever he wanted. But it had never seemed like Camden was one for public displays of affection.

And last I’d heard, Katherine actually despised him. Except that wasn’t quite true. Penn had mentioned that Katherine had seemed relieved to see Camden. That she might even…like him. My head spun with that knowledge.

I wanted her to be miserable. I wanted her to pay. And somehow, it had turned on its head. Just becoming this wasn’t enough. Not if she was happy with that bastard. Against all odds.

I rose to my feet. “Who cares if he’s here?” I said to Fiona. “You can get any guy you want. You don’t need to worry about one who’s already married.” I held my hand out to her, and she let me help her up. “Let’s dance.”

The rest of the girls jumped to their feet as the beat kicked in. We crushed together, letting loose, and seemingly getting rid of all our concerns. Just a group of beautiful women living the life.

Jane danced next to me with a sly smile on her lips. “Nice job.”

I threw an arm around her. “Fake it till you make it, right?”

“I think you’re already there.”

“Huh, I guess so. Who knew it was just an attitude change that could bring me all of this?”

“Me,” Jane said with a laugh, swaying her hips side to side.

Harmony appeared a minute later and swept into our dance circle. “Oh my god, did you see that Katherine is here?”

“We saw,” I told her.

“She’s going to kill us,” she said with a chuckle. “It’s going to be great.”