Two Can Play (Celeste and Dominic) novel Chapter 152

Chapter 152

CELESTE

Riley’s face crumpled, the fight draining out of her like air from a punctured balloon. She looked down at the table, her shoulders sagging, her hands limp and useless in her lap, and she did not say a word.

I took another bite of my pasta, savoring the silence, savoring the taste of victory that was somehow sweeter than the carbonara

on my tongue.

Riley suddenly shook her head, her hands flying up in front of her like she was warding off my words. “No, no, no, wait. It is not the same thing.”

“It is the same thing,” I said, setting down my fork and fixing her with a steady look. “Listen to yourself, Riley. Your brother made me stop going to Helix. My life’s dream, my life’s work. He framed it as love, as concert for me, as wanting me to rest and take it easy. And for the sake of peace in my marriage, I gave it all up. I stopped going to the lab except once in a while. I took my mind off my career entirely and focused my whole attention on him.

Look at me. I love looking sexy. I love wearing sexy dresses. This is how Julian met me, this is how I looked when he fell in love with me, this is what he married. But after the wedding, he wanted me to cover up. He said it was more decent to dress modestly, that a married woman should not be showing off her body to the world. And I did it. I became a stay-at-home wife doing everything for Julian.

He did not want children. Even though I did, I agreed. I went on the pill. Whatever Julian did not want, I did not fight him on it. I gave him everything he asked for without argument.”

Riley stared at me, her lips pressed together, her eyes shifting uncomfortably.

I picked up my fork again and took another bite of my pasta, chewing slowly, letting her sit in the silence.

“Now,” I said after I had swallowed, “you can see the way I spoke to you. I treated you with respect even though you did not earn it. So respectfully, take yourself away from this table and leave so I can finish my lunch in peace.”

Riley nodded, a jerky, mechanical motion, and then she stood up, her chair scraping against the floor. She turned and walked out of the restaurant without looking back, her shoulders hunched, her steps quick and uneven. I watched her go, the door swinging shut behind her, and I rolled my eyes so hard I felt it in my skull.

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