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“Oh, stuff it, Madison,” Declan barks, then pushes past her while draggingon that I don’t try to pull away or run in the opposite direction

Weakly following hio absolutely dizzy when I see Declan’s father

“What is going on, Declan?” I oes back and forth between Alexander Blackwood and Declan’s wife

Declan doesn’t release his hold onlook “Oh, now you call o, it was Mr Blackwood”

The fact he would dare taunt me in the midst of what is now a tense and aard situation infuriates ood recommendation But now, I just think you’re an asshole, so I don’tyou Declan Or wait, maybe it’s Dicklan”

Toready to laugh That’s cut short by Madison de on, Declan? It is in poor taste to bring your mistress to my suite”

Declan spins on Madison, gritting out, “She is not my mistress”

“Oh, really?” Madison taunts “Because last I heard, you are bound by marital vows When you sleep with another person, it is called having a mistress”

At this point, I actually beco His face turns a blistering shade of red, and a vein pops out in his forehead He sucks in a deep breath through his nose, letting it out with a ust from his mouth His hold on ers with ives my hand a squeeze

With his other hand pointing at Madison, he calmly says, “That is my wife, Madison Blackwood We’ve been separated for two years, and I have been trying hard to get her to sign fucking divorce papers in that timeframe I didn’t tell you about it because, frankly, she was not worth the time”

Madison’s sharp inhale of breath catches lance This is cut short by Declan squeezing s my attention back “Unlike you, Bailey, I was not hurt when she and I separated The in with, and I only did it because I was receiving immense pressure from my family Madison cheated on me, but I didn’t even care It was almost a relief I wasn’t devastated the way you were in your e, so it didn’t see ina pain in n the final documents”

“That is unbelievably rude,” Madison exclaims

Declan doesn’t even look over at her, and I don’t dare look away froht my attention

“My e was rotten, Bailey But it did not make me relationship averse The only reason I avoided committed relationships was that my job was always the s casual oreat trauet over I hope you believe me when I say I rarely think about her Other than to reach out to etting her to sign these documents, she doesn’t cross my mind Was it a mistake not to tell you this? I see noas However, I never intentionally hid this froh to share”

I’ back onmarried to someone, it never occurred to me that she would be so inconsequential it just wasn’t important I mean, it is important, but it isn’t to him She means that little to him

But things are still weird, and I need some explanation So I ask, “Why is your father here?”

Declan shoots a short glare at his dad before givingMadison another shot It appears when I brought you to dinner, I concerned my family It seems—and I don’t have proof of this—they may have hatched a plan to work in concert with my hopefully soon-to-be ex-wife in hopes I will turn my attention away from you”

“Your family doesn’t like me very much,” I lament

Declan shrugs “They’re assholes I can’t help that”

I want to laugh, but it would be grossly inappropriate But Declan gives me no chance because he turns to Madison and says, “I want you to hear e a second chance If you do not sign the docu to offer you the generous payout I did within those docuh a painful court battle”