Page 106 of A Simple Reminder
I pause, my voice lowering but no less fierce. “I’m in love with her. I have been for ten years.”
Lucas freezes, his gaze sharpening as he studies me. For the first time, his anger falters, replaced by something more calculating, as if weighing the truth of my words.
“That girl is going to be my wife,” I say, daring him to challenge me. “So you can yell, you can question me, but don’t for a second think I’m not serious about her.”
Lucas exhales sharply, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. “If you’re serious, Liam, then prove it. Not to me—to her. Because if you hurt her—intentionally or not—you’re going to lose more than just her. You’ll lose Leora too, and you’ll regret it.”
“I don’t need to prove it to her. She already knows. And I’ll make damn sure nothing and no one comes between us again, especially not me.”
Lucas swallows, his stance shifting, and I see the slightest hint of understanding in his eyes. But I don’t wait for him to say anything more.
“If you’ll excuse me,” I say, my tone icy. “I need to see if my girlfriend is okay.”
Without waiting for his reaction, I turn on my heel and walk out of the room, slamming the door behind me.
FORTY-ONE
SOPHIE
I’ve been pacing for about three hours, the nerves making my stomach twist in knots. As I walk back and forth, my apartment feels too small, too suffocating. My hands wring a dish towel so tightly that it might rip. I knew this would happen when I let go—I just knew it.
Every few steps, my eyes go to my phone, sitting in a bowl of rice on the counter, mocking me with its silence.
I wanted to call Liam the second I got home, but the stupid phone took a dive with me. Perfect timing. Now I’m stuck replaying everything in my head: the fall into the pool, Lucas’s voice cutting through the moment, and Jared’s face.
Lucas. God, I can’t believe he walked in on us. Heat rises to my cheeks again just thinking about it. Of course, he’s going to tell Leora—they’re the kind of married couple who tell each other everything. How do I explain it now? Lucas is going to tell her before I even get the chance. He probably already has.
I move on to Jared. What if he says something? But then I remember how Lucas glared at him, the fear in Jared’s eyes as he scrambled away like a chastened puppy. No, he won’t do anything. Not after seeing what Lucas is capable of when he’s pissed.And not after everything we’ve gone through.
Still, the nervous energy keeps building, and I’m pulling at my hair now, trying to calm myself. I head to the counter and grab my phone, testing if it’s working.Please, please work.I press the power button, and the screen lights up.Thank God.I let out a sigh of relief.
As the phone boots up, messages flood in all at once.
Liam
I’m on my way.
I’m so sorry for Lucas.
He’s an asshole.
I’m stuck in traffic, but I’ll be there soon.
Fuck, there’s been an accident. Traffic’s barely moving.
I barely have time to process those before more messages appear.
Adeline
Sophie! Liam called me. I’m on my way home. I’ll be there soon.
Have you seen this?!
Don’t freak out, okay? We’ll handle this.
There’s a link attached. My stomach twists tighter as I tap on it, and a website loads. A picture of me clinging to Liam in the pool appears, my hands gripping his shoulders, my mouth fused to his in what looks like the most passionate kiss imaginable. My body goes cold as I read the headline:
Ayoub D'or Heir Caught Red-Handed: Mixing Business with Pleasure in Scandalous Poolside Moment
