HEALING THE SCARS

CHAPTER 22

PENELOPE

"Get up! Now!" Dylan's voice cuts through the air like a blade. I stumble, tripping on my own feet, and fall to the floor.

"Dylan, it's not what you think. Please." My voice trembles as I try to beg him. Fear grips me, twisting in my stomach. I don't know what he'll do next. I don't know what he's truly capable of when he's this angry.

"I said get up!" he commands, his voice colder than I've ever heard. His hand grabs my arm, yanking me to my feet with a force that makes me wince. "You were with him at the beach. I bet that's why you sent the guard I assigned to watch you away. Because you knew he'd catch you cheating. And with whom? My greatest rival?"

I try to pull away, but his grip tightens. His eyes are sharp, piercing through me as he shoves his phone in my face. "Look at this. Look at what you were doing today."

My breath catches in my throat as I see the photos. Eric is kneeling behind me, his feet between my thighs, his hands on my body. The images are compromising, and twisted to look far worse than they are.

"So, did you enjoy it?" Dylan's voice drips with disdain. "Did you like it when he was rubbing his hands all over you? His fingers touching your body? You disgust me. But you know what? Now I can finally get rid of you." His voice is cold, almost mechanical as if he's detached himself from the situation, from me.

He throws a stack of papers at my feet. "Remember the will? And the contract? Here's a copy of both. It clearly states that if you cheat on me under any circumstances, I can divorce you immediately and you get nothing. Nothing at all."

I don't even look at the papers. "Dylan, I wasn't doing anything, I promise. I didn't even know he was your rival. I swear, none of this was intentional." My voice cracks, desperation seeping into every word.

"Just stop it," he snaps, his voice void of emotion, but his eyes... they betray him. There's something there, something deeper, but it's buried under layers of ice.

"Dylan, I swear I didn't cheat on you. Do you think I'm like you?" My voice rises, anger mixing with my fear. "I saw you on E! this morning. With Lindsey again. I know you're still seeing her, but do I ask? Do I accuse you? But when I have done nothing, you accuse me?"

His eyes narrow, the brief flicker of emotion gone. "Don't try to justify yourself. You even removed the ring from your finger." His voice is colder now, more dangerous. The anger in his eyes is controlled, simmering beneath the surface, but I can feel it radiating off him.

I step back, trying to put some distance between us, but the wall behind me stops me. "You know what?! Yeah, he touched me. And guess what? I let him. It felt so good. I liked it! I liked it so much!" The words spill out of me, fueled by hurt, anger, and a need to strike back at him. Dylan's expression doesn't change. His face is a mask, but his eyes... there's something in them, something that makes me regret my words the moment they leave my lips. He turns away from me, his back rigid, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

For a moment, I think he might walk away, leaving me standing there with my own words echoing in the silence. But then he speaks, his voice so low and cold it sends a shiver down my spine. "Oh yeah? But did he do it like I am? "He says in anger and tightens his grip on my neck pushing me further into the wall. My breathing increases and I swear he can hear my heart beating. He pushes my head upwards so that I am looking at him directly. I can see the anger in his eyes but I can also see the passion and hunger in them too.

His lips are on mine in a quick second and I don't even dare resist. I want this as bad as he does and he knows it. He is punishing me for what he thinks I did, but I am loving every second of it. His lips first brush through mine gently as if teasing me and I moan in frustration. He quickly takes my lips with his again and kisses me with desperation and urgency. His lips are wet against mine and I part my lips for him. His tongue rolls into my mouth intertwining with mine. He stops and lays trails of kisses on my neck. I can't help but moan at the pleasure I am feeling. He takes his other hand from my waist, still choking me with the other one.