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“Really? I know you would even if they think you’re something you’re not.” He pulled out his phone and showed it to her, then Maggie. The screen had her name at the top and a string of text messages, all presumably from her, begging him to meet her, for one more chance, for him to be with her even if he married Maggie. “The texts don’t lie.”
Gray snatched the phone from Marc and scrolled through them. There must have been a lot because he swiped the screen over and over again.
Tears threatened as she watched his eyes turn stormy with rage. “Gray. He’s lying.”
Gray handed the phone back to Marc without looking at her and walked away.
She tried to go after him, but Marc planted his hand on her shoulder and held her back. “Leave my cousin alone. You’ve caused enough trouble.”
Rose couldn’t wrap her mind around what had just happened. “Why would you do this to me? To Maggie? To Gray?”
Marc’s lips drew back in a sad frown. “I had to tell them, Rose. They deserved to know the truth, that I’m not the one obsessed about that night and you’re the one who wants me back in your bed. I won’t let you come between me and Maggie.”
Rose finally understood. He was getting back at her. Hewanted her out of the way so Maggie never had any more doubts—and Rose wasn’t around to influence Maggie. And he didn’t want Gray to be with her, either. He enjoyed watching Gray lose something he cared about. He’d show his father that he was the better man—the family man—while Gray remained a bachelor.
And Rose guessed this somehow had something to do with the family business.
Marc stepped between her and Maggie. “Let’s not forget, Rose; they saw you kiss me. If you can’t accept we’re over and I’m marrying Maggie, that’s not my problem. Maggie and Gray both deserve better than a slut like you.”
Rose saw red and screamed her rage. “I hate you! You’re a lying, cheating piece of shit.”
Suddenly Marc threw himself into the wall, hitting his head on a sconce, blood flowing out from a cut near his temple at his hairline. “What the fuck! You hit me,” he said incredulously. He pressed the heel of his hand to the bloody cut.
Maggie walked closer, staring back and forth from her to Marc. “Rose.”
“I didn’t touch him.” Her heart raced. “I hate him but I wouldn’t hit him.”
“You fucking bitch. You bashed my head into a wall.” He held his hand up, making sure she and Maggie both saw the red stain.
Two waiters, a couple of customers, and the manager, who was frantically talking on the phone, stared at them from one end of the hallway.
Maggie stood there like she couldn’t figure out whom to believe or yell at for ruining her night and possibly her wedding.
Rose turned to her and implored, “After what my father did to me, you know I’d never put my hands on anyone that way. He’s lying. About all of it. He just wants you to hate me. But you know I would never do anything to hurt you. I would never try to steal a guy from you. I only want your happiness. You know how much I care about Gray. You’ve seen us together. I’ve told you a dozen times that Marc was a mistake I wish I could erase. In fact, I wish I never met him.”
“Who’s lying now? I have the texts to prove it.” Marc continued to press his hand to the still-bleeding cut.
Maggie didn’t say anything.
Marc wouldn’t shut up. “She’ll say anything now that she’s been caught. I’m sorry, babe, but you had to know what kind of friend she really is to you. I love you.” A waiter handed Marc a wad of paper towels to stanch the bleeding trickling down the side of his face.
Gray’s father and uncle appeared behind Marc.
Grady looked at Rose holding her hands clenched in front of her. “What’s going on?”
She didn’t get a chance to answer. The cops showed up, ushered the bystanders away, and approached her.
“Arrest her, Officer. She assaulted me,” Marc bellowed.
The officer looked at her. “Did he strike you first?”
“No!” Marc snapped. “She’s crazy. Ask my fiancée.”
Maggie turned and walked to her mom, who enveloped her in a tight hug.
Rose felt abandoned and left adrift. And furious at Marc. “I never touched him.”
“You grabbed onto my shirt while we argued. Then you shoved me into the wall and I hit my head.” Marc pulled the paper towels away to show off the deep gash.
She scoffed. “He lied about me texting him and forced a kiss on me so my boyfriend would leave me and his fiancée, my best friend,” she said loudly to remind Maggie that she’d never do something like this to her, “would think I’m after him.” She looked at Marc. “Gray is going to remember everything we shared. He knows it was real. And Maggie has known me forever. She knows I’d never do something like this, but you have a history of lying and cheating. The truth will come out.”
The officer pulled her arms behind her back and cuffed her. “Let’s take this outside where you can calm down and give me your statement.”
This time she couldn’t hold back the tears that slid down her cheeks.
Grady approached her, his gaze sympathetic but also angry.
“Please find Gray,” she pleaded. “He’s really upset. Tell him I didn’t do this. I didn’t do it,” she sobbed, and let the officer lead her away and through the crowd to the squad car where he read her Miranda rights and questioned her. She sat in back, shackled and devastated, wondering how this happened and if Gray would ever believe her again.
