Watching You Burn In Regret novel Chapter 289

The woman said no more, turning and walking away with the swagger of a victor.

Carla's expression shifted through a storm of emotions before she looked down, her hands clenching into tight fists at her sides. A moment later, she relaxed them, her face once again a mask of composure.

When she entered the study, her smile was as sweet as ever. She sat down next to Edwin, taking his arm and leaning against him. "Darling," she purred, "when are you going to take me to meet your family? When will we have our wedding?"

Carla had always believed that a woman's gentle, coquettish charm was a man's ultimate weakness. It was how she had kept Swain and Slater Bradley wrapped around her finger. In the past, it had always seemed to work on Edwin, too.

Edwin held the cigarette between his fingers, letting the ash grow long. A playful, mocking smile touched his lips, as if he had just heard the most ridiculous joke. He had only allowed her to come to Elysian Bay to keep her under his thumb, to prevent her from ruining any more of his plans. And, of course, to have an outlet for his anger.

And yet, she was naive enough to think that a piece of paper actually made her Mrs. Montgomery.

He looked down at her, his smile turning cruel, his voice cold. "Take you home? Have a wedding? Carla, you're dreaming. Look at yourself. You have no talent, no looks to speak of. What makes you think you deserve to be Mrs. Montgomery?"

"Baby," he continued, his tone dangerously soft, "a person needs to have a little self-awareness. Just because I call you 'baby' doesn't mean you actually are one. To me, you're just a little plaything. In fact, you're not even that."

She bit her lip, her nails digging into her palms. Rage burned in her chest, but she couldn't let it show. Even without Edwin, she could live comfortably on the five percent of Rutledge Group shares she owned. But she refused to live a life overshadowed by Seren. She refused to be merely comfortable.

She *would* be Mrs. Montgomery.

Seeing the slight tremble in her shoulders, Edwin felt a flicker of dark satisfaction. He let out a soft chuckle.

"By the way, baby," he said casually, "there's a banquet tonight. I need you to be my date."