He Cheated I’ve Regained My Memory

Chapter 2

Paige glared at me. "You wouldn't dare," she hissed. She glanced at Marcus, then straightened. Apparently, she'd already forgotten what I'd done to her hand. "With Mr. Blackwood right here, there's no way you'd lay a hand on—"

I gave a cold laugh and sliced off a thick chunk of her hair before she could finish.

She froze, then screamed and stumbled back, cursing me. "Vivian Hartley, you crazy lunatic! You'll pay for this!"

I studied her. She wasn't so much like me after all. Before I lost my memory, even Marcus Blackwood, the man everyone feared, hadn't been safe from me. If he stole a deal from me, I blew up his warehouse. I never even blinked.

I lunged at her again. At the last instant, a hand closed around the blade. I looked up. Marcus stood between us, shielding Paige behind him. Blood seeped between his fingers.

She screamed even louder, then grabbed a fold of her white dress to wipe the blood from his hand. "Mr. Blackwood, you're hurt!"

Seeing the tears in her eyes, he gave her a gentle smile. "Don't be scared..."

Their tender little scene caught me off guard.

In the 6 years he'd kept me by his side, I'd become dependent on him for everything. He fed me, carried me on his back, and held me close whenever thunder frightened me. And the fool had done it all willingly.

I'd never imagined he had that same tenderness to spare for someone else.

He looked me in the eye, his voice still gentle. "I'll take her punishment." Then he seized the knife from me and plunged it into his own side.

Blood welled from the wound. The sight made my chest ache.

"Mr. Blackwood!"

"Marcus!"

The room erupted. Paige snatched the knife from Marcus and lunged at me.

I didn't move. I wanted to know whether the blade or his betrayal hurt worse.

Marcus caught her before the blade reached me. His face hardened. "Get behind me."

Tears spilled down her cheeks. Reluctantly, she let go of the knife and retreated behind him.

Marcus reached out to ruffle my hair, just as he always did, and flashed me a grin. "Still mad?"

I stared at him. Suddenly, the whole thing felt pointless. "You're pathetic, Marcus."

He was the one who'd stolen me away, who'd said we'd be together forever. It had taken him only 6 years to change his mind. The cruelest joke was that, in those 6 years, I'd fallen in love with him. More deeply than I'd ever loved anyone.

He only smiled at my insult. "As long as you've got it out of your system."

Paige couldn't stand hearing me insult him. "Who on earth do you think you're talking to?" she shrieked.

Marcus caught her as she tried to rush me and scooped her into his arms. As he carried her past, he smiled at me. "Go home first. I'll teach her a lesson." He signaled to the bodyguards. "Take my wife home."

Two of them immediately closed in around me.

I watched him walk away and sneered.

By the time I stepped outside, everyone who'd been making such a fuss had gone. One of the bodyguards was starting the car.

I hauled him out, slid behind the wheel, and hit the gas. I headed straight for the Hartley estate.

I wasn't going back to Marcus's house. I was going to get back the woman I'd been 6 years ago.