When Love Breaks by Jack

Chapter 4

“Fine.” I pursed my lips, ultimately deciding to leave a shred of dignity for him before Margaret. Or perhaps it was for my own sake.

For the moment, I couldn’t quite pin down Margaret’s purpose for her visit. Was she genuinely feeling she shouldn’t accept the necklace? Or was she there to declare. something?-

A flicker of emotion passed across Margaret’s face too swiftly to be caught. She smiled. “I was worried this necklace might cause some misunderstanding between you two. Seems like it hasn’t, so I’ll be heading back now.”

Emma escorted her out.

As soon as the front door closed, I stepped away from Bryant’s embrace, “You said it was for Steven, right? And Margaret’s married, isn’t she? Since when did she become one of Steven’s flings? Hmm…”

Bryant silenced me with a kiss, fierce and urgent, almost as if venting some frustration.

Only when I found it hard to breathe did he slightly loosen his hold, caressing my head as he admitted his fault. “I lied to you.”

#

He pulled me close. “Margaret’s divorced. I was worried about her, so I gave her the gift.”

what Bryant meant by “Congrats

my lip, half-doubting,

voice was firm and soothing as he explained, “You know Margaret’s mother saved my life at the cost of her own. I couldn’t just

Emma. Bryant’s biological mother died during childbirth, and when he was five, his

even went so far as to risk her life to save Bryant, ending up in a vegetative state for

was for that reason, it made

help but gently remind him, “Bryant, I believe you just wanted to repay a debt

eventually ended up

my suspicions hadn’t completely vanished. They were

10:34

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

a moment. It was as if I needed to double-check

there was no mistake. Margaret, who parachuted to become the

know her?” Christine noticed my offbeat reaction, waved a

is Bryant’s half-sister,

and I, having been thick as thieves since college, had made a pact to stay in RiverCity, come hell or

clicked her tongue. “Damn,

nodding along to what she

of her in the design circles. And Bryant, just like