The Day I Stopped Waiting Was the Day He Started Begging novel Chapter 70

"Swap phones. We're doing a loyalty check."

"I'm giving you absolute security. What do you think, Ms. Monroe? I'm quite the fast learner, aren't I?"

He acted as if their explosive argument outside hadn't even happened.

In fact, it was frighteningly similar to the honeymoon phase of their marriage. No matter how viciously she lashed out, York had always brushed it off with a dark joke, relentlessly teasing her until she cracked a smile.

But right now, Madeline just felt a crushing exhaustion, like she was throwing devastating punches into a void.

It proved that when a heart went cold, the exact same charming tricks felt like utter psychological torture.

"You nailed it. Never do it again. I have zero interest in whatever secrets you're hiding in your phone."

Madeline's eyes were as desolate and freezing as a winter moon, entirely devoid of emotion.

"Also, York, are you actually trying to prove a point, or did my earlier truth bomb hit too hard and you're just looking for a reason to throw me out of this car?"

"Your phone is loaded with highly classified legal evidence. I'm a civilian. If I start swiping through federal secrets, I'll end up in prison."

York's black eyes locked onto hers, a predatory smirk playing on his lips.

"Maddy, don't think so low of me. I've been doing this job for years. Obviously, I didn't hand you my secured work phone."

The man finished speaking and casually extended his open palm.

"I handed over my life. Where's yours?"

"Whether you actually check it is up to you, but offering it proves my absolute loyalty. I've shown my hand. Where's yours?"

Madeline was cornered.

This absolute bastard had just set an elaborate trap and waited for her to step right into it.

There was no way in hell Madeline was stupid enough to hand her phone to York.

Her camera roll was overflowing with hundreds of photos of Evie, not to mention...

"I don't let people go through my phone."

York's dark eyes turned lethal. He unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned entirely into her space, violently pinning Madeline against the passenger seat.

"Maddy, it really looks like you're hiding something catastrophic from me. Don't tell me you actually have a secret lover stashed away somewhere?"

He devoured her, plundering her lips as if trying to brutally reclaim every single second of affection they had lost over the years. He wanted to chain her to him, carving his claim into her very bones so she could never escape him again.

A sudden wave of absolute terror crashed into Madeline's heart.

With the way York was speaking, did he actually know something?

What if he had already discovered Evie's existence...

Caught entirely in her panic, she missed her window to dodge the kiss, leaving her entirely at the mercy of the man relentlessly plundering her mouth.

An eternity later, Madeline's lungs screamed for air. She shoved York back, dragging in ragged, shaky breaths.

The sheer intensity of the kiss left her cheeks flushed with a feverish red, her eyes burning with sheer annoyance.

How had she just let that absolute bastard take complete advantage of her again?

Just thinking about it made Madeline shoot York a deeply venomous glare.

York just let out a low, victorious laugh.

"Let's go. Time to see the in-laws."