Gold Digger vs Gold Saver My Man's Double Life novel Chapter 61

Chapter 4

Declan’s face went rigid.

He hurried over, voice tight: “Grace, it’s not what you think.”

I jerked my hand back, my laugh bitter: “Not what?”

I pointed at the photos. “The watch, cufflinks, hand cream-all gifts from ME! You’re using MY presents while telling another woman that ‘scars are beautiful’?”

Tears burned my eyes, but I forced them back.

He crouched down to meet my gaze, eyes soft and pleading: “Scarlett was traumatized. She’s disabled-she’s been through so much pain. I was just being supportive as her boss, encouraging her not to feel insecure.”

He reached for me, but I pulled away.

“Support that includes personal drink delivery, applying her prosthetic oil, calling her brave?”

My voice shook. “And that comment about me being ‘so small’-were you COMPARING me to her? That’s disgusting!”

“GRACE!” Declan’s voice cracked with anguish.

“I’ve NEVER thought of you that way! You’re irreplaceable!”

He took a deep breath, his tone becoming desperate: “Baby, I admit I felt sympathy for her. She reminds me of my mom… but I swear, NOTHING inappropriate happened! My heart only belongs to you-don’t you know that?”

I bit my lip, staying silent as tears rolled down my cheeks.

He hated seeing me cry-the pain was written all over his face.

Finally, he stood and brought over a heavy wooden box. “I was saving this for the wedding.” He knelt on one knee and opened it.

Inside weren’t jewels, but dozens of small, smooth wooden carvings: rabbits, deer, pagodas, towers…

“Remember how your grandpa used to make you little wood animals?” He picked them up one by one, treasuring each piece. “This panda is from that Denver trip when you wanted one. This shell is from Miami where you collected them…”

Fifty-two total, representing every business trip and vacation we’d taken, capturing my random wishes and whims.

“You said when Grandpa died, no one would make you wooden toys anymore.”

He looked up, his eyes reflecting my tears, voice solemn: “Grace, your grandpa’s gone, but I’m still here. I’ll keep loving you the way he made you happy.”

The gesture hit my crumbling defenses like a sledgehammer.

He’d remembered everything.

I wavered-maybe Scarlett really was just about his mother’s memory?

Finally, I nodded: “Declan, I believe you. But promise me-no more personal contact with Scarlett outside of work.”

15:22

Gold Digger vs Gold Saver: My Man’s Double Life

51.7%

Chapter 4

Declan pulled me into his arms: “Done. I promise, baby. I swear it.”

He kissed away my tears, whispering sweet reassurances.

That night, I texted Emma: [I’m giving Declan one more chance.]

Declan kept his word completely. He even made a public statement:

[Scarlett and I are just business. Marrying my fiancée in three days-send us your love!]

The photo showed our intertwined hands.

Comments flooded with congratulations, and the shipping posts completely disappeared.

He even delegated all future commercial work to his subordinates.

Scarlett vanished from our lives entirely.

I thought everything would go back to normal.

Until the night before our wedding, when I needed something from his home office computer.

I accidentally found a folder deep in his files labeled “SR”

My mind immediately jumped to Scarlett Reed, even my lips trembling.

I saw it was password-protected.

I tried both our birthdays-wrong.

Declan usually kept passwords simple.

Suddenly, I remembered Scarlett’s first confession post: [June 28th-the day we first met.]

Ding-Access granted.

My heart plummeted.

Inside was a video of my six-year boyfriend making love to Scarlett with passionate intensity.

Their voices were like venom in my ears:

“Declan, why are we recording this?”

“Scarlett, don’t you like it? I’m keeping this video as a treasure. Even Grace doesn’t get this treatment.”

“Only you, Scarlett. Only you. I love you.”

I pressed my hand to my mouth, tears threatening to spill, but I held them back.

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