Chained To Me: A Billionaire Enemies To Lovers Romance

Chapter 29 -Aston

"You need to control the narrative," she says as our appetizer arrives.

"And how do I do that?" I take an oyster.

"Since you won't tell me the truth of why that fateful night happened, we're going to have to come up with a new plan. Opening a charity would be a good first step. You know, shift the attention away from that horrible night to something good."

As I think of it, it was a horrible night. It was the night I found out Sienna was fucking my best friend.

The wound still hurts, albeit less so now. But now, a part of me feels like I can never trust anyone again. I do my best to bury the pain, not think of it, and focus on what Everly's saying.

"I'm not exactly the charity type," I explain. "I donate a fair amount to organizations Lina picks out. But to own and run a charity? That sounds like a big deal."

"It is a big deal. But, trust me, there's no better press than to do something good for other people."

I consider what she's saying as we order our entrees. Bouillabaisse for her. And Steak Tartare for me.

I take a sip of wine and analyze Everly. She's been on my case to tell her what happened that night at Amethyst, and maybe I should give her what she wants. She needs to know why I was such an asshole to her.

"Do you want to know the truth?" I ask.

"What do you mean?"

"The truth of why that night occurred—I will tell you. It's the reason I pushed you and the world away."

She puts a hand over her mouth, shocked. "Of course, I want to know if you're okay with giving me the truth."

"I think it's time."

Everly sips her wine, eyes intent on me. And I know this is right. She deserves to find out what happened.

"It was Sienna," I say, reliving the pain of that experience.

Suddenly it all comes back to me—coming home to find Sienna in my bed fucking Will.

The way she called his name...

Her legs wrapped around his waist...

The way she almost came for him...

It makes the pain in my heart simmer again, fresh as if it had happened yesterday. But I press through it and tell Everly precisely what happened.

"I came home from a business trip," I explain. "To find her in my bedroom, fucking my best friend."

Everly is quiet, hanging onto every word.

"We'd been together for three years. I never expected a betrayal like that. It hit me like the force of a train, pushing me back. I couldn't fucking breathe. I couldn't move. It was like all the life was being sucked out of my body. So, I did the thing I knew I could do that would bring me back."

"You went to the strip club," she says.

I nod. "I used to go there a lot when I was younger before I was successful. It felt like a natural move. And I just needed to fuck someone, anyone, to prove to myself that I could escape the massive pain that had formed in my heart. I was running from it. But, the truth is, no amount of fucking or drinking or escaping would suffice. The pain was there in the morning. It was there the next day. And the fucking day after. And while it's lessened some, it's still here today." I look down.

Everly analyzes me, and for a second, I think that what I've done is irreversible. She won't forgive me. She won't understand why I did what I did.

Just like the world, Everly judges me.

I take a deep breath, preparing to explain to make her see my side. But then, she pushes her hand across the table, grabbing mine. And her warmth, the feeling of her skin, reminds me that I'm not alone.

"That's awful," she says. "Now I understand why you wouldn't tell me or didn't want the world to know. I wouldn't want the world to know that my heart got smashed into a million pieces either."

I look at her, realizing that there is someone, at least, I can relate to.

I've been carrying this weight around with me for so long alone. But, finally, I can share it.

"I was a dick to you," I say. "But I couldn't risk you coming close to me and discovering the secret I was hiding. I had to push you away."

"I'm happy you let me in," she says, squeezing my hand. "I'm happy you changed and told me the truth. I won't tell anyone."

I look into her forest-green eyes, and I see the understanding there. She fucking gets it.

And my heart feels a tiny bit less banged up.

Fucking Everly.

She's beautiful, kind, multi-layered, and strong. She's everything I don't deserve, yet I want her so much.

But for now, it's enough that she's here to witness my pain.

It's enough.