Chapter 256
Chapter 256:
Sitting on the floor right outside my dark blue door was Quentin. He looked haggard, his tie undone and his hair a messy tangle. The moment he saw me, he scrambled to his feet, clutching a massive bouquet of red roses like a cheap shield.
“Carmella,” he breathed, taking a step forward. “Please. I’ve been waiting here all night. You have to let me explain p>
I stared at him. I had no Inner Wolf to bare its teeth, but a fierce, primal instinct to protect my den surged through my human veins. I felt absolutely nothing for the man standing in front of me. The illusion of our perfect life was dead.
“There is nothing to explain, Quentin,” I said, my voice a flat, emotionless void. “Leave p>
His face twisted, the desperate facade cracking to reveal a toxic, wounded pride. “Who was he?” Quentin demanded, his voice pitching higher with jealousy. “The guy on the phone last night — who the hell speaks to me like that? Are you already sleeping with someone else p>
Wе 𝘶p𝗱𝘢t𝖾 𝘦v𝘦𝗋у we𝖾k 𝘰ո
“That is none of your business,” I snapped, stepping around him to reach my door.
Quentin blocked the keypad. “Carmella, be reasonable! We’re getting married in two weeks. The deposits are paid. Our families are flying in p>
I looked him dead in the eye. “We had a wedding p>
“It was a mistake!” he pleaded, his hands shaking. “Jessica — she threw herself at me. You don’t understand how it is in the office. Her scent, it was everywhere, she practically cornered me p>
A blinding, white-hot fury ignited in my chest. He was actually blaming his secretary’s perfume for his own lack of a spine.
“You don’t just trip and fall into another woman’s bed, Quentin,” I fired back, my voice echoing sharply down the quiet corridor. “You don’t come home smelling of her cheap perfume and desperation unless you chose to wallow in it p>
The heavy wooden door across the hall creaked open. Mrs. Petrova, my elderly neighbor, peeked her head out, her eyes wide with scandalous curiosity.
Quentin’s face flushed a dark, humiliated red. “Carmella, keep your voice down,” he hissed, glancing frantically at the old woman. “People are listening p>
I didn’t lower my voice. I raised it.
“He cheated on me, Mrs. Petrova! With his secretary!” I announced loudly, pointing directly at his chest.
Mrs. Petrova gasped, her hand flying to her mouth before she shot Quentin a look of absolute, withering disgust.
Quentin’s jaw dropped. The last shred of his fake remorse vanished, replaced entirely by a petty, vicious anger. He realized he had lost control over the quiet, compliant fiancée he thought he owned.
“Fine,” Quentin spat, his true colors finally bleeding through. “If you’re going to act like a hysterical bitch, then we’re done. Give me the ring back p>
I let out a harsh, cold laugh. “The ring we bought from our joint savings account p>
“I picked it out. Give it to me,” he demanded, holding out his hand.
I didn’t argue. I unclasped my purse, reached into the side pocket, and pulled out the heavy platinum diamond ring. It caught the harsh fluorescent light of the hallway. Quentin reached for it, a greedy gleam in his eye.