Chapter 103

Reese’s heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might explode. She gripped her seatbelt with both hands, her knuckles turning white.
“Zach, stop the car!” Finally, her voice cracked with fear.
Zach just pressed the gas harder. The car flew down the road, tires slicing through puddles and sending water spraying everywhere.
Reese’s breathing turned quick and shallow. She stared out the windshield, certain that any second now, something was going to jump out in front of them.
With a screech, the brakes kicked in.
The car skidded across the wet road for several feet before jerking to a stop. Reese lurched forward, only for the seatbelt to slam her back into the seat, digging painfully into her shoulder.
She scrambled to unlock the door, desperate to get out, but before she could, a big hand wrapped around her wrist.
“Who said you could leave?”
Zach leaned over her, his tall frame blocking out everything else. His breath was hot against her ear, thick with the smell of rain.
Suddenly, memories from seven years ago crashed into her. Sebastian dragging her into a room, the rough hands, the humiliation. Her whole body went cold. She couldn’t stop shaking.
Zach looked down at her, curled up in the seat and trembling, and his eyes flashed with anger. “Reese, are you scared of me?”
She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to look at him.
Ever since that night, any kind of touch from a man sent her spiraling back to that same desperate helplessness.
Zach’s tone grew even harsher. “What are you shaking for? You think I actually want to touch you? Please. I wouldn’t risk catching something from you.”
He leaned across her, yanked the door open, and snapped, “Get out!”
Reese almost fell out of the car.
The rain hit her instantly, soaking her all the way through. Cold water ran down her hair and into her clothes, and the wind whipped around her, making her shiver so hard her teeth chattered.
She looked up in time to watch Zach drive away, his taillights disappearing into the downpour.
Rain blurred her eyes. She dragged herself under the nearest awning and pulled out her phone to try calling a ride.
But in this weather, no one was out driving. She even upped the fare five times, but nobody took the request.
A familiar black car rolled up across the street, stopping in front of a restaurant. Reese’s gaze drifted over without thinking.
Sebastian stepped out, holding a big
black umbrella. He tilted it to shield
Leslie as they hurried togethe
to the
Bentley. He opened the back door
QU
for her and then slid in himself.
Not a drop of rain touched Leslie. Meanwhile, Sebastian was soaked down one side.
He never even glanced her way, never noticed Reese, standing there under the awning, dripping and miserable. Chapters fırst released on.net
Reese’s chest ached, heavy and sore, like the rain had gotten inside her ribs.
So Leslie was the new girl at Sebastian’s side.
So this was what Zach wanted her to see.
But so what?
She was about to divorce Sebastian. Whoever he was with now shouldn’t matter to her at all.
She suddenly sensed someone watching. Reese glanced up and met Neal’s eyes. He was trailing behind with his own umbrella
looking thoughtful. When he realized she’d spotted him, he paused
flashed a crooked, almost teasing
smile, and hopped into the
passenger seat.
The Bentley’s taillights vanished into the storm. Reese wiped the rain off her face and checked her phone again. The nearest driver was still over an hour away.
Through the gray blur, she noticed the lights of a supermarket not too far off. Gritting her teeth, she dashed back into the rain, running for the store, hoping to buy an umbrella.
She’d barely made it a few steps when she heard someone coming up behind her. Suddenly, a black umbrella appeared over her head, blocking the rain.
Reese froze and turned. Matthew was standing right behind her, holding the umbrella. Rainwater dripped from his hair, a few strafos plastered to his forehead, making him look less put-together than usual-a little wild, a little rough.
“I thought you looked familiar. It really is you,” Matthew said, flashing a small smile. “What are you doing out here?”
“Just… running an errand.” Reese pointed at the supermarket. “You don’t have to worry about me. I just need to buy an umbrella.”
“Let’s go together.” Matthew shifted the umbrella so it covered her even more, but he didn’t move from where he stood. “I need to pick up a few things anyway.”