Open Marriage, Broken Promises: When Love Turns to Ashes novel Chapter 12

When she got home, she was cutting James out of her life for good.

There was no "later" for them.

She didn't belong in his world.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Alex pulled up in front of her gated neighborhood.

Outside, James stood by the curb, face like a thunderstorm.

The way he was staring at the car—at her—was feral.

Like a guard dog ready to rip something apart.

Alex raised an eyebrow.

"Want me to handle this?"

"No need."

Emily's voice was calm.

"After today, he's a stranger to me."

And she owed nothing to a stranger.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out.

James moved instantly, grabbing her arm.

"Why the hell weren't you answering your phone?"

His grip was rough. Too rough.

Emily's expression turned ice-cold.

She yanked her arm back.

"Because I didn't want to."

The words hit him like a punch.

She had never spoken to him like this before.

Not since he broke her down, piece by piece.

Not since he made her think she had no choice but to obey.

Was it… because of him?

His eyes flicked to the car.

To Alex.

Rage burned through his chest like wildfire.

"You ignoring me because of him?"

Emily looked at him—really looked at him.

It was his.

Alex's.

His fingers clenched.

Before she could react, he grabbed at her coat, yanking it off.

"Take it off! Now!"

His voice was raw with fury.

"Emily, do I even exist to you anymore?"

The coat slid to the ground.

And James froze.

Beneath it, her body was covered in bruises.

Purple. Red. Black.

The kind of marks that didn't come from just anything.

He went still.

His breath caught.

And for the first time—he realized.