Meadow’s POV:


    The moment I asked that question, the atmosphere shifted. ric looked away from me, his body tensing, his jaw clenching even harder.


    I knew why I chose this question. Because there really was no way for ric to avoid the truth. Maybe I


    was being maniptive, but I needed to know. This was the only way I would know if ric did get


    drunk with rissa like she had imed.


    Like I said, I was going to find a way to ask. And now, the opportunity had simply presented itself.


    “ric?” I pressed again, my voice quieter this time.


    He pushed away from the counter. From me. And I instantly knew that whatever was going toe out of his mouth next was going to be a lie.


    <i>“</i>You did.<b>” </b>


    My stomach fell, my voice shaking as I replied: “You’re lying.”


    “Meadow-”


    “No,” I snapped, jumping down from the counter. I stumbled, but ric was quick to catch me before I could fall. “<b>You </b>said you were going to answer honestly.<b>” </b>


    He ran a hand through my hair, his eyes unfocused but hard. How could he lie so easily after he said he was going to be honest with me?


    “And I just did,” he muttered. “I let her go because I knew it was what you wanted.” He stepped back. “We should eat before the food gets cold again.”


    “Bullshit,” I scoffed. ric arched a brow. I stepped close to him again. “The night before you left for Vegas, you were angry. So angry, you practically called me a slut!”


    His eyes softened slightly. “Look<i>…</i>” ric started to reach for me, but I stepped back. Because all of a sudden, I didn’t want to be near him anymore. I didn’t want him to touch me.


    Because if he touched me, I would melt. And I would listen to what he had to say and it would deter me from my own focus.


    That was how much influence ric Ashford had on me.


    I crossed my arms in front of my chest, hating that I was bringing this up when he had already


    apologized for it. But this was very necessary. “You made it very clear that you were not going to let her <i>go</i>, ric.”


    My chest was clogged and I struggled to breathe. “You said I was going to have to give you more than a… a ‘mediocre‘ blowjob if I wanted you to release her.” My voice cracked.


    ric’s eyes fell shut and he ran a hand through his hair. But he didn’t say a word. This was destroying him, but instead of speaking, he would rather let it stew inside of him.


    “So excuse me for not believing that you would’ve let her go after saying all those things to me.<i>” </i>I shook my head, blinking back unshed tears. “I want to know why you let her go, ric, because obviously it


    wasn’t because I asked.”


    ric’s jaw flexed. “And what if it was?” He asked calmly. “I told you how it broke me to say those things to you. That I wanted to hurt you.” He took a step closer and I took one backward. “So what if <b>I </b>just let her go after that because I felt fucking terrible?”


    I raised my chin. “I know you didn’t<b>.</b>”


    “Why would <b>you-</b><b>” </b>


    “Because, ric, if that’s really what you did, then you wouldn’t be asking what–ifs<b>,</b>” I gritted out.


    I was getting agitated. But who wouldn’t? Why wouldn’t I get agitated when I knew that ric would rather lie to me than mention rissa’s name or say something–anything–to discredit what she said?


    He ran his palm over his jaw. “Since you’re so certain someone convinced me to let her go, who do <b>you </b>


    think did<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    I froze. 1


    For a moment, <b>I </b>just… stood there, watching ric.


    I didn’t have an answer. I mean, I did have one, but how was I supposed to say it? How was I supposed to-


    “What happened between you and rissa?” The words flew out of my mouth before I even realized that I


    was asking the question. 1


    I didn’t know what else to do. My mind was all over the ce, and the lies… God, I wanted to catch him in <ol><li>it. And I wanted him to know that I had caught him. </li></ol>


    There was no way to prove that someone convinced him to let my sister go–let alone rissa. So maybe …maybe this was the next best step.


    I wasn’t going down without a fight.


    ric narrowed his eyes. “What?”


    I swallowed. “What caused your break up?”


    He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Meadow, I said one-”


    “And you refused to answer, ric. You sessfully diverted the answer. So I have to ask another one. What’s the true reason you broke up?”


    His jaw flexed as he looked away. “That doesn’t matter.”


    My stomach twisted, my nostrils ring. “What do you mean it doesn’t matter? You promised you were


    going to answer honestly.”


    Something shed in his eyes when he finally looked back at me. And then he stepped toward me again,


    this time trapping me between his body and the counter.


    I couldn’t breathe.


    I hated that he was this close, his body touching mine, his gaze directly on mine. That would not do any


    good in this conversation.


    “I know,” he leaned in, brushing his lips against mine even though his tone was clipped. “But not every


    answer is going to be one you like.”


    He was referring to my first question. My heart hammered against my ribcage and I pushed against his


    chest. “That’s not an answer, ric. That is avoidance.”


    He didn’t say a word, but I stood on the tips of my toes. “ric, please, just… answer one.”


    ric exhaled sharply, shaking his head. His shoulders were tense. “Don’t do this, Meadow. Just stop.”


    My brows furrowed. “Stop?” My voice cracked. “You’re the one who told me to ask a question. You’re the one who said <b>you </b>would answer honestly. Why say that if you know you won’t?”


    His jaw clenched, and for a second, he closed his eyes. When he opened them, a chill ran down my spine.


    His eyes were cold–as cold as they were the night I caught him with the diamond–studded punching bag. And I knew… I knew that this conversation was over.


    “Careful, Meadow<i>.</i><i>” </i>


    I flinched at the edge in his voice, but he didn’t stop. “You think you want the truth, but you don’t. I already told you, some things are better left unsaid.” His jaw ticked hard.


    His blue eyes were dark with fury, his chest heaving against mine. He wouldn’t step back. Why wouldn’t he step back?


    ric continued in a lower tone, eyes softening slightly. “The only thing you need to know is this: whatever happened between me and rissa is OVER. Dead. She has no ce in my life, or this marriage. I have you, Meadow. I have YOU.”


    My lips parted.


    He thought this was just a case of insecurity. But that’s not what it wasn’t–I mean, maybe it was a part <b>of </b>it, but I just wanted him toe clean about this.


    <b>“</b>That’s not…” I started, but trailed off<b>, </b>because I didn’t know what else to say.


    A breath of relief escaped me the moment ric finally stepped back and away from me.


    My vision blurred. “ric, I-<b>” </b>


    He shoved out a breath. “There’s some work I need to do in my study. You can have dinner <b>if </b><b>you-</b>”


    “Save it,” I snapped, scowling at him. <b>“</b>I’m going to bed. It’ste anyway.”


    The moment I brushed past ric, he inhaled sharply. “Meadow, wait.”


    “Good night, ric.”


    I didn’t wait.


    Neither did hee after me.