Chapter 17 You Think You’ve Won?
<< Vanessa's POV >>
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My legs wobbled slightly as I walked down the hallway, the dull ache between my thighs reminding me of what I'd just done.
My skin still burned from Ryker's touch like it had been branded.
I bit down on my lower lip—the same lip he'd had between his teeth—trying to calm the heat rushing back to my cheeks.
My fingers trembled slightly as I smoothed my dress, taking slow steps towards the reception. I had spent hours in the restroom, fixing my makeup and trying to conceal any traces of my affair.
Shame twisted in my guts. I couldn't believe I'd given in and let Ryker claim me. And I hadn't hated it.
Ryker Holland wasn't supposed to know me like this. He wasn't supposed to know the side of me that was exposed, broken, and craving.
That too, not in his family's house. Not with Derek just a few blocks away, celebrating with the others while I was getting screwed in the public restroom by his brother.
This wasn't normal. Nothing about Ryker was normal or less twisted. But somehow, with him, the chaos was less suffocating.
God, I needed to get away from this tangled situation. To normalcy and to everything else that had nothing to do with him.
I tried to push the thoughts away as I rounded the corner, but there she was.
I stopped dead in my tracks as Annie stepped right in front of me, blocking my path like she owned the whole damn hallway.
She wore a perfect designer dress that clung to her body. Her fake smile stretched across her face as she said. "Well, well, if it isn't the temporary wife." Her voice was sickly sweet but sharp as a knife. "Brave of you to show up here, Vanessa."
I didn't bother to smile back. "Temporary? That's cute. I'm the reason your wedding is even happening, sweetheart. I saved your sorry ass."
Her eyes dimmed at me, her smile wavering. "You mean the stand-in, cleaning up my mess while I was having the perfect life?"
"Oh please. In case you missed it, you're just a pity prize." I snorted in distain. "You ran off chasing your Italian fantasy, leaving the man you say you love behind. Then you came back, he divorced me for you. And now, here we are—at your engagement party and you actually believe he loves you?"
Annie's smile faltered. "Don't forget who's about to become Derek's wife."
"Yeah, I know. Enjoy it while it lasts, because this isn't some fairytale happy ending."
"Or you're just bitter."
"Bitter? No. I'm just sorry you turned out so miserable."
"At least, I'm not the desperate one who's still clinging to a marriage that was never real." She laughed. "Everyone knows that you're still hung up on my man. And it's sickening."
Her words hit like a slap. The truth in those words burned. But beneath the anger, something else began to grow—doubt.
Was I really still stuck on Derek? After everything—his engagement to Annie and his moving on with no sign of remorse—was I still hung up on him? Or, have I started to slip, maybe a little towards Ryker?
I tried to look unbothered. "Better to be desperate than a coward who runs from responsibility."
"Coward?" Annie repeated, stepping closer. "At least I'm not a cheap whore bouncing between brothers like a hand-me-down. Derek didn't want you, so you ran straight into his half-brother's arms? What are you to him now? A toy only good for satisfying his whims?"
My hands balled into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms. I could feel the bitterness rising, the metallic taste flooding my mouth.
"What?" She looked amused. "The truth hurts so much?"
Everything in me screamed to slap that amusement off her face, and I did.
Before I could think twice, before reasons could take hold, my hand moved before I could stop it. I slapped her hard across her face with every ounce of rage I'd swallowed for months.
The sound echoed in the quiet hallway.
Her eyes widened in horror, every trace of a smile escaping. The amusement was gone, replaced by a mix of shock and pain. As if she hadn't expected me to retaliate.
An unfamiliar feeling of satisfaction surfaced when I saw my fingerprints on her face. But I wasn't done.
I stepped closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear. So the words would sink into her skull.
"Listen carefully, Annie," I said, my voice unusually cold and steady. "You might have Derek now, but don't forget who held this thing together when you ran off like a spoiled brat. I was the one who lived the nightmare you left behind. So do yourself a favor—pack up your rotten attitude, roll it up nice and tight, and shove it in your ass. And if it won't fit, shove it into Derek's."
I let my words hang between us. She didn't say a word, just stared in astonishment.
My eyes remained locked on her. "And if you think for one second that I'll step aside and let you win—you're dead wrong, little sister."
I raised my hand, letting her see the diamond ring sparkling on my finger. "And since you're clearly slow, I'll tell you for free that I'm engaged. I'm not a toy."
Her eyes moved from my ring to my face, lips parted in disbelief.
"Of course," I said, smiling. "Ryker Holland is my fiancé, no less. Soon, Derek will be calling me sister-in-law while I stand next to my man, looking down at yours."
"You..." Annie fumbled with her words, still recovering from the shock. "You think you've won? Don't get ahead of yourself."
My smile widened as I dropped my hand, taking a few steps back. "Sorry, but I'm already ahead of the game."
My lips curled in contempt. "What's Derek's position again? Oh, right—he's a director at one of Holland's groups. But my fiancé is the CEO. And your husband? He answers to him."
Her expression darkened, and the fire in her eyes did not quite match the satisfaction in mine.
I brushed past her, paused, then said above my shoulder. "You'd be smart to stay out of my way, Annie. Because if you don't, I'll make damn sure you regret it."
And with that, I walked away, head high, leaving her to choke on those words.