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Authors: Alyssa J. Montgomery
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complications followed. Then, knowing the chairman of Formosa Corporation was out of action, a rival company seized the opportunity to mount a takeover bid, forcing Jake to step in to ensure his father’s lifetime of work was safeguarded. He’d had to leave the country to shore up support in New Zealand and close off important negotiations in the United States.
It had been an exhausting time. His duties at work and the care he’d given his parents had consumed his every waking moment. He’d been angry with Amanda during that time, too. Angry and disappointed. After her initial supportive phone call, when she’d offered to be at his side at the hospital, she’d behaved childishly. She hadn’t taken his rejection of her offer well. Her response had been to disconnect her mobile phone. Then she’d refused the calls he’d made to her at work. And now she claimed she knew nothing about the calls.
In between meetings and trips to the hospital, he’d managed to squeeze in a quick visit to her legal firm. On that occasion he’d been told to leave the building or be escorted out by security.
So he’d decided to forget about her. But even when he’d buried himself in his work, she was ever-present in his mind. Sleep brought no reprieve either as she haunted every one of his dreams. He resolved to try one last time to see her when he returned to Australia.
God! When he’d left a message at the legal firm inviting her to dinner the night he returned, she’d had the hide to turn up at the restaurant with her obnoxious husband in tow—flaunting her marriage. Flaunting her pregnancy.
Jake’s heart had swelled when he’d seen her walk in. He’d only had eyes for her and hadn’t even noticed Bennett by her side. When Bennett announced their marriage, he may as well have taken a knife, cut open Jake’s chest and skewered his heart.
Jake wanted to punish Amanda.
The adamant denial she’d given him when he’d asked whether the child could be his, had been like a death knell. The pain he experienced once he knew Amanda was expecting another man’s child had been more than he could endure. His love for her had been killed. There was nothing he could do but try to bury that love alongside his ravaged heart.
Jake had heard speculation that Amanda had deliberately fallen pregnant to force Bennett into marriage. But no matter how hard Jake tried to convince himself he’d had a lucky escape, it didn’t ease his heartache. Thank God she hadn’t realised how deeply he’d loved her, and that he’d never proposed and been tied to her for life.
Perhaps the miscarriage of her child had been punishment enough.
Jake was shocked at that terrible, uncharacteristic thought. Despite the deep scars of her betrayal, he would not have wished that upon her. But part of him still wanted retribution.
His attempt at marriage to Sophie had been a dismal failure because of his experience with Amanda. Until he got over Amanda, he wouldn’t be able to commit to—or love—any other woman.
He would carry out his plan and remind himself Amanda had never been worthy of his love.
Lust?
That was an entirely different matter. He still wanted her and fantasised about her like some hormone-driven adolescent. Lust was something he could now deal with, something he would deal with. He was determined to slake his thirst for her, and then close the chapter of his life forever.
The elevator doors opened. The sight of her punched him in the gut and his harsh convictions shattered. Amanda was huddled in a chair, arms wrapped defensively around her midriff—she looked ill and completely broken.
He’d been shocked at her appearance at Bennett’s funeral—she’d appeared drawn and had lost a lot of weight—but the young woman who sat waiting for him was unnaturally pallid, almost ghost-like. There were smudged circles of bruised purple under her eyes, suggesting many nights without sleep. Her full lips were almost lost in the lines of strain
It had been an exhausting time. His duties at work and the care he’d given his parents had consumed his every waking moment. He’d been angry with Amanda during that time, too. Angry and disappointed. After her initial supportive phone call, when she’d offered to be at his side at the hospital, she’d behaved childishly. She hadn’t taken his rejection of her offer well. Her response had been to disconnect her mobile phone. Then she’d refused the calls he’d made to her at work. And now she claimed she knew nothing about the calls.
In between meetings and trips to the hospital, he’d managed to squeeze in a quick visit to her legal firm. On that occasion he’d been told to leave the building or be escorted out by security.
So he’d decided to forget about her. But even when he’d buried himself in his work, she was ever-present in his mind. Sleep brought no reprieve either as she haunted every one of his dreams. He resolved to try one last time to see her when he returned to Australia.
God! When he’d left a message at the legal firm inviting her to dinner the night he returned, she’d had the hide to turn up at the restaurant with her obnoxious husband in tow—flaunting her marriage. Flaunting her pregnancy.
Jake’s heart had swelled when he’d seen her walk in. He’d only had eyes for her and hadn’t even noticed Bennett by her side. When Bennett announced their marriage, he may as well have taken a knife, cut open Jake’s chest and skewered his heart.
Jake wanted to punish Amanda.
The adamant denial she’d given him when he’d asked whether the child could be his, had been like a death knell. The pain he experienced once he knew Amanda was expecting another man’s child had been more than he could endure. His love for her had been killed. There was nothing he could do but try to bury that love alongside his ravaged heart.
Jake had heard speculation that Amanda had deliberately fallen pregnant to force Bennett into marriage. But no matter how hard Jake tried to convince himself he’d had a lucky escape, it didn’t ease his heartache. Thank God she hadn’t realised how deeply he’d loved her, and that he’d never proposed and been tied to her for life.
Perhaps the miscarriage of her child had been punishment enough.
Jake was shocked at that terrible, uncharacteristic thought. Despite the deep scars of her betrayal, he would not have wished that upon her. But part of him still wanted retribution.
His attempt at marriage to Sophie had been a dismal failure because of his experience with Amanda. Until he got over Amanda, he wouldn’t be able to commit to—or love—any other woman.
He would carry out his plan and remind himself Amanda had never been worthy of his love.
Lust?
That was an entirely different matter. He still wanted her and fantasised about her like some hormone-driven adolescent. Lust was something he could now deal with, something he would deal with. He was determined to slake his thirst for her, and then close the chapter of his life forever.
The elevator doors opened. The sight of her punched him in the gut and his harsh convictions shattered. Amanda was huddled in a chair, arms wrapped defensively around her midriff—she looked ill and completely broken.
He’d been shocked at her appearance at Bennett’s funeral—she’d appeared drawn and had lost a lot of weight—but the young woman who sat waiting for him was unnaturally pallid, almost ghost-like. There were smudged circles of bruised purple under her eyes, suggesting many nights without sleep. Her full lips were almost lost in the lines of strain
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