Heirly Ever After, Vernon, Magan [best thriller novels to read .txt] 📗

my phone and accidentally got yours,” I managed to croak.

I shifted so I was facing him, but he didn’t look at me.

His eyes locked on the messages.

“Rodrick and legal mumbo jumbo? Is that what you were really upset about last night, or was it more about the redhead who has done her due?” I spat each word as my eyes burned.

He winced as he licked his lips. “Madison…”

“What? What is all of this? Did you seek me out in the train? Think I was an easy target so you could make a plan to take the Webley estate?” With each syllable, my voice rose. My breath was shaking as everything rained through me.

Maybe I was making a bigger deal and misreading the text messages.

But that thought was shot as soon as I saw the slight shake of his head, his eyes still on the bed instead of me.

“Madison…I meant to tell you…”

“So it’s true?” I didn’t want to believe it. My hands balled up into fists as I pulled the covers close to my chest, sitting up, as if the sheet would block me. Like this was all some bad dream.

He raked his fingers through his hair as he pulled back to the edge of the bed.

Last night I couldn’t believe this sexy man wanted me. That he’d made me come undone with a few swipes of his tongue and had kept going. How much he’d cared about my feelings before we even began in the bedroom.

But had it all been just a farce?

Was this all about getting a pay day from the Webley family?

“I can explain, but no matter what I say, it’s going to come out wrong. Because it is true. I came here to try and save my family’s legacy, and then Rodrick told me last night about some suspicions I had actually being true and I just…”

Every hair on my body stood on end, and I gripped the blanket tighter as I pulled it to me. Words escaped me. All I wanted to do was forget that moment and go back in time to when I was clueless on all of this.

“But I didn’t count on meeting you, damsel. I don’t want you to get hurt in all of this, and I’m going to find a way to make sure that you don’t.”

He reached his hand toward mine, and I recoiled, standing up and bringing the blanket with me. “Don’t you dare touch me.”

“Madison…” His words might have been pleading, but the man still couldn’t even look at me.

Fucking coward.

“You wanted to find a way I wouldn’t get hurt, but you had plans to ruin my sister’s wedding by coming in and claiming half of everything of the Webleys’? Talking to a guy named Rodrick to make sure the claim was legit? I don’t know what any of your plan is, but honestly I don’t give a flipping flying flippity flip.”

Bending down, I scooped up my underwear and bra, trying to get them on the best I could under the blanket.

He scooted closer to the edge of the bed, putting his hand out again, but I stumbled back, pressing against the wall.

He finally met my gaze.

Was he feeling sorry for me?

Well. Fuck. That.

“You need to leave. Now.”

“Madison, can’t we just talk? I can explain everything.”

I shook my head and yanked one of the fluffy robes out of the open dresser, wrapping it around myself quickly. “No. I think you’ve done enough. My sister’s wedding is in two days, and you’d better not be here for it.”

He rose to his feet, the blanket pooling at the floor below.

If I was going to keep my wits about me, I couldn’t let my eyes trail down his neck and the wicked V of his stomach and treasure trail.

No.

No matter how sexy this man was, what he’d done was worse than what anyone had ever done to me.

He’d lied to me.

He’d used me.

And he was about to screw over the people I loved most in the world.

Well, someone had to make sure that didn’t happen.

“I’m going to my sister’s room, and I’m sure someone will be by to escort you out,” I said, gripping the door handle.

He shook his head. “It doesn’t have to be like this. Please. Let’s just…”

He kept talking, but I stopped listening. I stomped through the room, still hearing his footsteps behind me, but I wasn’t going to turn around, and surely his naked ass wouldn’t follow me down the hall.

Throwing the door open, I broke out into a full sprint as fast as my bare feet could carry me. My eyes burned, but I was done crying over men. This time I needed to do what I had put off for too long.

Dodging statues and maids with passing trays, I made my way to my sister’s bedroom, banging on the door.

My heart beating wildly as I waited to hear her.

Slowly the door opened with my sister’s sleepy eyes, her robe pulled tight around her.

“Madison? Is everything okay?”

I shook my head, holding back a sniffle. “No. It definitely isn’t.”

She put her arm out and motioned me inside. “What can I do to help?”

…

Everything poured out of me like ice melting on a hot North Carolina day.

But this time the tears didn’t come like I expected.

My head stayed down as I huddled close to my sister on the couch in her sitting room. She just listened, not saying a word as I told her all about what I found out about Jacob. And then it was finally time I admitted the rest. If I was going to get upset at a man for keeping secrets, I couldn’t hold my own anymore.

“You’ve done so much for me, and I ruined it all. First dropping out of school then bringing this guy here…” Before she could respond, I met her wide-eyed stare. “I’ve been meaning to tell you and Mom, but I didn’t have the guts to do it. Chris didn’t come with me because we broke up months