Rita's Point Of View
I almost laughed at the sheer absurdity of my own words… cheating floors and infected neighbors, but I caught myself just in time. I kept my face as straight as a board, harder than the mahogany Seraphina was probably working on right now.
My jaw ached from the effort of maintaining composure, the muscles twitching with the strain of suppressing both laughter and rage.
Adrian didn't stop. He remained there, a heap of expensive fabric and cheap excuses, begging as though I held the keys to the kingdom. His designer shirt was wrinkled, I noticed… so unlike the meticulously groomed man who used to pick up my daughter for dates.
There were creases across the chest where he'd probably slept in it, or maybe he'd been clutching at it in desperation. The sight would have been pathetic if it weren't so infuriating.
"Please, just one chance to explain, I—"
