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She froze “My motivations?”

“You’re a great actress when you want soestured between us, “is all an act”

She stared at ?”

“You knohat I’”

Her eyes went narrow, and her face hardened “No, I don’t Explain it towhen I’ve told you I love you”

Pressure had been building to a level I couldn’t e, and it suddenly erupted “Because it can’t be true!” My shoulders tightened up to my ears and er burned out, leaving my tone cold “We were supposed to be partners If you loved me, you wouldn’t have sold me out”

Her mouth dropped open, and more hurt splashed across her face “You knohat? I love you whether you want to believe it or not That’s how love works But frankly, it’s pissingto tell you this is real for me I don’t knohat else I can do to prove it to you” She tilted her head “It’s almost like you don’t want it to be Is that it? Would that be easier for you if it were a lie?”

I closed e of my nose “I don’t kno to do this”

“Yeah, I can tell,” she said dryly “When you asked me to put my father’s watch back, you pro you the saether and find another way”

“No,” I said “There’s nothing you can do now because it’s over You made sure of that when you took his money”

She inhaled a sharp breath, and her posture stiffened I hadn’t , the worse it got I knew I should apologize and clarify, but Ididn’t The words wouldn’t come

Her chin lifted and she gazed at me like I was a coward “Fine” She spun on her heel and marched away from me

“Where are you going?” I demanded

She didn’t look back as yanked open the door “I’ve got work to do Goodbye, Vance”

TWENTY-ONE

VANCE