Quit Your Arrogance, I Got Another Man

Chapter 4

My message was blocked.

Meh. Blocked or not, same difference. I'd just mail him the divorce papers.

As I neared home, Thea's text popped up. One glance, and my face twisted in disgust.

Thea: Hey, sorry! Left some memories in your car. My treat for the cleanup!

Attached were photos of used condoms. Even the seats were smeared with disgusting watermarks.

In the past, I'd have sobbed, screamed, demanded Elias grovel for forgiveness.

Now? Just bile rose in my throat.

He'd actually done that in my car.

Fuming, I put the car on a resale site.

When I walked into my house, Cedric was already there—fresh off a flight, exhaustion lining his face. But the second he saw me, his eyes sparkled like an overexcited puppy.

The frustration Elias brought me evaporated like mist in sunlight.

Cedric stayed two days. My mother adored him more by the hour, so she planned a five-day pre-wedding trip.

Thanks to my mom's not-so-subtle scheming to pair them off, Elias and Thea joined too.

Elias's eyebrow twitched when he spotted Cedric.

He thought I was using Cedric to make him jealous.

So, he yanked me aside, sneering, "Rosalind, still pulling childish stunts? You think some random guy will make me jealous? Why can't you be more like Thea? She's got actual grace."

I ignored him.

Elias seemed to enjoy this trip. He shadowed Thea the whole time, leaving me in the dust. They even shared the same room.

Tossing key cards at Cedric and me, he fake-apologized, "Sorry, Rosalind, no other rooms available. We're uncle and niece—sharing's weird. Cedric's a guest; dumping him with me? Awkward."

"But Thea? We're old friends. Totally aboveboard."

I hit record, then forwarded the audio to my lawyer.

The next morning, I documented the hickeys plastered on Thea's neck—smoking-gun evidence of Elias' cheating.

After two days, we packed up for the next stop.

But then, we had a car accident. Cedric was in the passenger seat, while the three of us sat in the back.

The moment impact came, Elias lunged over Thea, covering her completely like a human shield. As soon as the car stopped rolling, he scooped her up. Then, he bolted—not even sparing me a look.

My foot was fractured, and the acrid stench of gasoline choked the air.

Pinned and powerless, I braced for the inevitable explosion.

Then, Cedric kicked the mangled door open. As flames devoured the car, he hauled me out just before the world erupted behind us.

He crushed me to his chest, yet the blast still left me scorched and aching.

By the time we staggered to safety, Elias sauntered over—finally, predictably late.

His gaze skittered away from my wounds, jaw tightening with a guilt he couldn't hide.

"Sorry, Rosalind... I thought you'd already gotten out."

"Thea's frail—if she'd spiraled into a panic attack, it might've killed her. But you're a sprinting champion. I knew you'd make it out."

Then he saw Cedric, whose arm stayed firmly around my waist to support me.

For one frozen second, Elias' face went blank—then his eyes darkened, burning with possessive fury.

"Who the hell is this guy?" he snarled, jabbing a finger at Cedric.

"How dare you let him put his hands on you?!"