CH 34 Harmony It was all true , Damien had been cheating on her and for who knew how long ? Shed seen it herself and many times , apparently , just always forgot about it . She could feel the bile rising up in the back of her throat , as she realised just how dumb she had been . A hand latched onto her as she hurriedly headed away from Garretts office . No longer wanting to be in there hearing anymore . Harmony sweetheart , its all in the past now . It was Laurel Damiens mother I have sent that girl away , overseas . Hell never see her again . Harmony stared at Laurel unbelievingly . How could she just say that , did she still expect her to accept Damien back ? After all she had just heard , after hed laughed about it , and called her that terrible name . She couldnt believe it . She pulled her arm from the womans grip . No , she stated , how can you even ask me such a thing , I hate him . She spat out Ill never take him back . Harmony , please be reasonable . You have nothing and no one , and were offering for you to be part of our family . Youll never want for anything ever again . This is how it works in their world . I was like you once … Do you think I didnt have the same issue ? That my own husband in there , doesnt have a mistress even now ? Harmony was just staring at her more than wide eyed , and she could actually see the pain in Laurels eyes and hear it in her voice . Its hard and difficult to live within their world , you sometimes have to conform and turn a blind eye to the things they do . In order to be a part of their world , their family . I will never . Harmony shook her head Im not like you , I dont want that for myself . Would never accept being with a man that doesnt want me , wants another . Its not that he doesnt want you , Harmony , he just … has needs that , she sighed Its difficult to explain . Hes attracted to both of you in very different ways . Weve talked to him . He wont do that anymore , there will be an iron clad prenup with stipulations in place to prevent that , if you cant accept that about him . she turned and walked away , only to be latched onto once more , and she felt it , that bile rising in her throat again , as she was halted and turned to face Laurel again . She stopped trying to fight it off , and let herself just throw up right there on the womans pants and shoes . Laurel gasped and staggered back away from her , staring down at her vomit covered clothing . 1/5 CH 34 + Point : It sickens me . Harmony told her I will never be like you , I have more respect for myself than that . She stated and she did . She felt a set of hands on her upper arms and heard Ryan state Ive got you Harmony , youre alright . And that weird southern accent was rolling out of him once more . He turned her away from Laurel . Leave Mrs Blackwell , I think Harmony has heard more than enough , you and your family will not get what you want from her . and she was walked away by Ryan , to his office and ushered on to his couch in there , where he brought her a glass of water , she took it with shaking hands . She could barely hold onto it to drink from it . She was shaking so much , she didnt know if it was disgust or anger that had her shaking so very much , probably a bit of both she thought . Damiens own mother , a woman who had always been nice to her , smiled at her and seemed to really like her . Seemed happy in her life all the time ; had just told her that Gregory had a mistress , always had one , from what Harmony took from those words . She knew it to be true , the pain shed seen and heard was real . That Laurel , wanted her , Harmony , to be just like that . Accept her son and his mistress forever and always . Just suck it up and turn a blind eye to it . Damien didnt love her , and now she knew he never had , hed always love Chloe , she now realised . She was just to be his trophy wife , someone that would stand next to him , would smile all the time and pretend he loved and doted on her . When , in fact , he didnt want her at all . Would use her body to make him look good and honest , a family man . Redeemable because she took him back . She might have nothing and no one , but she had self respect , and wasnt going to be a doormat , that man and his family could walk all over , just to have access to his money and status . She had always gotten by on her own and could continue to do so . She was never going to let him touch her ever again . She didnt know how it worked in their world , if what Laurel had said was in fact true of all wealthy people , but she didnt care for it , wouldnt be allowing herself to be pulled into a world like that . Breathe honey . She heard Ryan state softly , as she dragged in a breath , hadnt even realised she was holding it in . Well never let him near you again , Ryan told her . Its … Its so sick and twisted . She murmured . Very wrong indeed . Ryan agreed with her , and pulled her gently into him , to lean on him , and 2/5 CH 34 she let him Everything , will be okay . She was trying to think through all shed heard , all the things Damien had said back then and how hed called her that terrible name , and it dawned on her that he not only knew shed slept with another , had probably seen it . it had been in that night club as well . He knows . She turned her eyes to Ryan . Knows what ? he asked . Who … she looked at her still flat stomach I slept with that night , he must have seen it , she murmured . Thats not the first time hes called me that or told me I slept with some random guy . She felt much calmer sitting here , and could for the first time , see her way to talking about what was going on , she also no longer felt sick or nauseated . Let it go , you two were over the moment you saw him with Chloe . You stated that yourself right to him . But , what if he finds out about my baby ? she worried . He will , eventually . Youll only be able to hide it for so long . Ryan nodded . I dont … even know who it is . she murmured , and she didnt . Well get to that later . He sighed a little . What ? she asked . Itll all get sorted out in time , he smiled down at her Just stay here and relax for a bit longer . She nodded and leaned on him some more , she was actually comfortable sitting there with him , taking comfort from his presence and she knew it . It was a bit weird , but she didnt want to move away from him . Didnt really understand it either , shed only known him for all of three days but was at ease in his presence . There was just something about him that was calm and comforting , and she needed that right this minute . She was still all leaned into him when Garrett walked into the office , sometime later and looked at the two of them . A smile touched his lips , and she felt Ryan chuckle a little I got her, all is good . I can see that . Garrett nodded , and he came and sat on the coffee table in front of her Ive had those people removed from the building . There will be no more dealing with them . They are horrid people , Harmony . She wanted me to take him back , to let him have a mistress , always . She muttered . 3/5 + Pem CH 34 Appears to me , they hand picked you for him . That Chloe is in their eyes unacceptable wife material . You , however , are perfect for that in their eyes . He shook his head . She shuddered visually at the thought of that . Its sick and twisted is what it is , I dont know how they think its acceptable at all . Garrett sighed You should love your wife or husband , and always be faithful . She threw up only once , Garrett . Ryan told him . I know , kind of expected it actually . With all that was said , I was unhappy about what I learned myself . What did you learn ? Harmony asked curiously as she sat up , though she felt Ryans hand drop to the small of her back . Just what I stated a moment ago . The Blackwells , Gregory and Laurel hand picked you , set Damien up to date you with a view to marrying you after a predetermined amount of time , Id say . Though like you , I believe he actually wants Chloe . So Im guessing some sort of deal was struck between all of them regarding what they wanted , only you got left out of it on purpose . I was the mistress all those years , is what youre saying . She was staring at him now , more than a little horrified . Shed allowed herself to like the man , fall in love with him , give herself to him and learn to do those things he liked in the bedroom from him . Because shed loved him , and wanted to make him happy , enjoyed being with him , and it was all nothing to him . Just a lie . She was just a body to be used by him . Hed told her Chloe was better in bed than she was , and now she understood that was actually true for him . Because it was Chloe that he truly desired and wanted , not her . She wondered how he did it , slept with her all that time , did he just imagine she was Chloe , was he even attracted to her at all ? Shed heard Laurel state he was , but she doubted it , she was nothing like Chloe . Wondered if he had to make himself touch her ? She could feel Ryans hand rubbing her back as pain touched her , as she sat trying to understand everything about her relationship . Three years and all of it was a lie , none of it was real , or not for Damien . Hed never loved her , never likely would . Wanted to marry her , but only for how it would make him look . Like a wholesome family man , that didnt care about the wealth and status of the woman he was in love with . Showing the world he had a heart , and could love a poor orphaned girl , that came from nothing . 4/5 CH 34 * Posest She was so very dumb to think a man like that could love her . Shed had doubts in the beginning because of his wealth and their different status . But hed pursued her and laid on all the charm , and shed been suckered in by him ; it was all just a lie . Why did he do it ? How could he be with me all those years , if he was in love with Chloe all this time , how could he … have s * x with me at all ? She didnt understand that . She saw Garrett sigh a little on the heavy side . Men can be fickle , he likely does find your attractive , and likes that part about you , that your so very beautiful , so sleeping with you is probably easy for him . He might well prefer your looks to Chloe , but still love her … Who knows ? She huffed I feel like a piece of used garbage . She muttered . Youre not that . Garrett told her and leaned forward and took her hands in his , Never think that about yourself , you did nothing wrong . That whole family is rotten to the core , it seems . Coerced you into being with their son , into falling in love with him , so that they could get you to marry him , and be the perfect wife that loves him and stands next to him is all . 6 Comments Watch Ads ( 0/20 ) > Vote 1.5K 5/5 In "Cross My Heart and Hope to Die" by CrushReel, Zoe Hale takes a daring step by marrying Ashton Cross, a man under suspicion for her sister's mysterious demise. As their relationship evolves, hidden truths unravel, intertwining love and suspense in this captivating romance novel. 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