I shut Ryan Hardin down without a hint of hesitation.
Ryan froze for a moment. After all, this was the first time I had ever told him “no” in the past nine years.
Frowning, he gave me a slow once-over. “Daisy Boyle, have you lost your mind? Or is your neurotic wolf acting up again?”
I stared at him with a poker face.
After a while, Ryan grew uncomfortable under my gaze and waved me off. “Fine. You don’t want to do it? Then, don’t ever do it again. Don’t expect me to show you any courtesy next time.”
He waved over a maid and barked, “Bring out breakfast.”
Just then, the Omega he brought home last night, Clare Lambert, giggled as she sauntered up beside me. “Daisy, did you learn those exciting positions we tried last night?”
As soon as she said that, Ryan yanked her back by the arm. “Cut it out. Go clean up and eat.”
Clare threw me a dazzling smile over her shoulder and mouthed the word “loser” at me.
At breakfast, she sat beside Ryan, all hushed whispers and flirtatious laughs.
Seeing that, I felt like someone had carved a hole in my chest. I kept wondering where I should go once I left.
Suddenly, someone tapped me gently on the arm. I looked up to see Ryan standing beside me with a stern expression.
“What?” I asked softly.
He gave me a complicated look. “What were you just thinking about? I called you twice, and you didn’t hear me.”
I turned back toward the table and replied coolly, “I was thinking about what I want to do next.”
Ryan sneered. “What could you possibly do? Mop floors? Serve food?”
The insult came so naturally to him. But it didn’t sting. Perhaps I had grown numb.
Nine years of marriage had scraped me down to nothing. I had lost myself entirely. My world spun around him as I lived only to serve and please.
I had forgotten the version of me who used to have dreams.
Nine years ago, when Grandpa—who raised me—was caught in a silver mine trap, I was helpless and desperate. That was when Ryan appeared.
He handed me a million dollars, but there was a price. I had to sign a mate agreement and play his partner to deal with a dispute with Campbell Pack.
I agreed for Grandpa.
