He Cheated I’ve Regained My Memory

Chapter 1

"Vivian, don't listen to her nonsense..." Marcus came toward me and reached for my hand. I pulled away, then slowly drew the knife out of Paige's palm.

The moment the blade was out, she grabbed a beer bottle from the table and aimed it at my head.

"Paige!" Marcus barked her name and wrested the bottle away.

Her eyes filled with tears. "Mr. Blackwood, you said no one would ever get to bully me. You said I could do whatever I wanted, and you'd have my back." She pointed at me, her face contorted. "Well, I want to ruin her face."

Marcus didn't answer. He was watching me, searching my expression for something. Fear. Surrender. Heartbreak. He was going to be disappointed.

I tossed the knife onto the drinks table with a clatter and gave Paige a faint smile. "I hear you're good at dice. Care for a game?"

The first time Marcus had mentioned Paige, it was because she'd beaten one of his rivals in a drinking game. He'd been impressed with her ever since.

She blinked, then raised her chin and grinned. "If I win, Mr. Blackwood is mine."

"Deal."

"He says you used to be good at this. Let's see just how good."

She gave me a smug look, then focused on her cup. She shook it with practiced ease, set it down, and lifted it.

Three fives.

She smirked at me, certain she'd won.

I gave my cup a gentle shake, then slid it toward her, along with the knife.

"I win. You pulled my hair. Now I want you to shave your head bald."

Her smile faltered. She bent over and lifted my cup.

Three sixes.

The room went silent. No one dared make a sound.

I smiled. "Go on. Don't keep me waiting."

Paige shot upright and pointed at me. "Vivian Hartley, you're just his pampered little pet. Do you have a death wish?"

Her outrage amused me.

"Come on, Vivian," someone intervened. "Marcus's just having a little fun. She's young. Don't hold it against her."

"She must really care about him," someone else chimed in. "She never bothers with any of us. Who'd have thought she'd go after Paige like this?"

Marcus visibly relaxed. He pulled me into his arms and brushed a finger over my lips. "All right. Don't be angry. I'll make sure you never have to see her again."

He said it so casually. As if hiding her from me could erase his betrayal and every humiliation I'd suffered tonight. What a joke.

I shoved him away in disgust, picked up the knife, and pointed it at Paige. "Are you going to do it yourself, or do you need my help?"