Chapter 86
Chapter 86:
“I’m telling you the truth!” Kieran stepped closer, invading her space. “You’re wasting your life for money. I can give you money. I have millions. I can pay you double whatever he’s giving you p>
Jocelyn slammed the cup down on the saucer. The china rattled. She turned to face him fully.
“I don’t want your money,” she said, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. “I wanted respect. I wanted loyalty. You gave me neither p>
“Then what?” Kieran mocked, his face twisting. “You want love? From him? From a man who probably shudders when he has to touch you p>
“Yes,” Jocelyn said. She had to shut him up. She had to defend the only person who had actually defended her. “I am happily married. Gaston treats me like a queen p>
“He doesn’t treat you like a woman,” Kieran countered, sneering.
“You wouldn’t know,” Jocelyn shot back, her eyes flashing. “You never knew how to treat me like a woman either. You treated me like an employee you slept with p>
Kieran’s face turned a mottled red. “I loved you p>
“You loved controlling me,” she corrected. “Gaston respects me p>
“He’s using you,” Kieran insisted, gripping the edge of the counter.
“And I’m using him,” Jocelyn declared, lifting her chin. “We’re happy. Go away, Kieran. Go plan your wedding to Aspen. I hear she wants canary yellow bridesmaids’ dresses. Tacky p>
J𝗈𝗶ո 𝗼𝘶𝗋 с𝘰𝗆𝗺𝘂𝘯i𝘵у 𝗼n ѕ.со𝗆
She tried to walk past him. He blocked her again, spreading his arms.
“Prove it,” Kieran challenged. “Call him. Right now. Put him on speaker. Tell him you love him. Let’s see how your ‘husband’ reacts to that p>
Jocelyn hesitated. Her heart hammered against her ribs. If she called Gaston and interrupted a meeting — or if he answered with his usual cool, detached tone — Kieran would win. He would see the cracks.
But she couldn’t back down.
Through the lounge’s glass doors, she spotted Harvey in the distance. He caught her eye, his expression worried, and she saw him discreetly tap his phone before turning away.
Her phone rang in her hand.
She looked down. The screen lit up: Gaston.
It was a coincidence so perfect it felt scripted.
She looked at Kieran, raised an eyebrow, and swiped to answer. She hit the speaker button.
“Hello?” she said, her voice tight.
“Hey, beautiful,” Gaston’s voice filled the space between them — deep, warm, and dripping with an intimacy that made Jocelyn’s toes curl. “Ready for dinner? I’m downstairs p>
Kieran flinched as if he’d been slapped.
Jocelyn let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. She forced her voice to soften, to sweeten. “Yes, darling. I’ll be right down p>
“I missed you today,” Gaston added, his voice dropping lower — a rumble that felt like a physical caress. “Hurry up. I want to see you p>
Jocelyn blushed. A real, hot flush that climbed up her neck. She hoped Kieran saw it. “Me too,” she whispered, and to her horror, she realized she wasn’t acting.
“See you in five,” Gaston said. The line clicked dead.