He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 13

That deep, magnetic, and indulgently reprimanding tone used to be Scarlett's favorite sound in the world. Having grown up without a father's love, she had fallen for her boss, who was five years her senior, precisely because Yardley possessed that strict yet protective, authoritative aura.

Others might feel awful being harshly reprimanded by him, but she never minded. In fact, she had enjoyed being guided and pushed by him. But now, the illusion was completely shattered.

She scoffed, her anger surging once more. Grabbing a vase from the console table, she aimed it squarely at his head and yelled, "Get out!"

The amusement vanished from Yardley's eyes, replaced by cold severity. "Haven't you thrown enough of a tantrum? Scarlett, I'm giving you an out right now. If you don't take it, the offer is gone."

Scarlett sneered. "Keep your charity. I don't need it."

She had choked down her resentment for far too long. She wouldn't rest until the people who had caused her so much agony paid the price.

Yardley rubbed his temples. He stepped forward, smoothly wrestling the vase from her grip, then swiftly pinned her wrists and hoisted her slender frame into his arms.

Scarlett thrashed wildly, but the man didn't let go. He carried her straight to the sofa and pressed her down beneath his heavy frame. His predatory gaze seemed to pierce right through her as his warm breath fanned across her ear. "Alright, it's my fault. I've been spending too much time with Sylvia lately and neglected you. Be a good girl. Stop fighting me."

With her hands pinned above her head, Scarlett tried to kick, but Yardley instantly trapped her legs beneath his heavy thighs. Her petite frame was hopelessly outmatched by his towering, muscular build; fighting him was like trying to move a mountain.

"Let me go!"

"No. Tell me, did you miss me?"

"Get... off!" Scarlett hissed through clenched teeth.

Amusement flickered in Yardley's eyes as his breathing grew heavier. "You've finished your postpartum recovery. It should be fine now... Tonight, I'm going to take care of you properly." With that, he dipped his head and gently bit her earlobe.

He knew her body inside and out, always able to effortlessly exploit her sensitivities. But when it came to her emotions, he was completely clueless, and he had never bothered to try and understand them.

A full minute passed before he spoke, his voice dangerously tight. "Scarlett, aren't you taking this too far?"

His gaze grew colder by the second, sharp as ice. "When I said I wanted a divorce, I wasn't throwing a tantrum. It was an official notice."

Scarlett quickly adjusted her robe and sat upright on the opposite chair, deliberately putting distance between them. "My lawyer will send the divorce papers to your office tomorrow. Once we're divorced, you can take care of Sylvia and her baby out in the open."

Since they were splitting, he could pamper them however he pleased. Out of sight, out of mind. She was thoroughly disgusted by the whole situation and refused to waste another ounce of her emotional energy.

Faced with her icy indifference, Yardley finally hit his limit. He shot to his feet. "Scarlett!"

"You know better than anyone why I chose to marry you in the first place!"