Page 138 of The Bad Husband

“Let me finish. If you have real feelings for her, this is the best opportunity for you to test them. If she has real feelings for you, she’ll wait for you.”

I stare at her in disbelief.

“You’ve lost your mind, dear wife.”

The sarcasm is not lost on her.

She shrugs a shoulder carelessly.

“If you’re not doing that, I’ll tell her you’re only fucking her because you want to get all the money that her sweet daddy left for her.”

Any other day, I would’ve found this funny, entertaining even.

“You make no sense.”

“Don’t I? Because living in the guesthouse so you can fuck her in your house makes a lot of sense.”

I set my drink down.

“Listen to me carefully. You’re alive and talking to me right now because I didn’t put a bullet in your head. A decision I begin to regret.”

“No, you listen to me. The only reason I’m alive is that you spotted a unique opportunity to get your money back from my inheritance. Had I not been a widow, you wouldn’t have made an exception.”

“Precisely. And, what’s your point?”

She sighs.

“I can’t live on your property like I’m the help.”

A sarcastic grin pulls at my lips as I fold my arms over my chest.

“That’s where you’re drawing the line?”

“I can’t do it.”

“You’re jealous.”

“I’m not jealous.”

“Yes, you are. And it has nothing to do with me. You’re jealous of her. What did she do to you, Henrietta? She’s just as annoyed with her father’s will as you are.”

“I didn’t expect her to be your mistress.”

“She’s not your problem. The only reason I had married you was to have control over you till I recouped my money.”

“We were together once.’

“So? You stole my money, did whatever the hell you wanted to with it, and then married her father. You used your marriage to protect yourself, and now you’re making such a fuss about it. Had I not stumbled into you that day in New York, I would’ve never known that you were once married to this woman’s father. I bet you regret going to the cemetery that day. You were pretty crafty. I’ll give you that. I had my men look for you everywhere. You knew how to keep a low profile, and honestly, getting married to a math teacher?”

I laugh.

“Knock me over with a feather. That had never crossed my mind. You can’t be mad at me right now because I keep you here,” I say.

“That’s not why I’m mad?”

I unfold my arms and pick up my drink again.

“So you admit you’re mad. Good. At least we agree on that. We’ve been through this shit before, Henrietta. You’re not going to ruin your life because of some woman.”