Chapter 6: What we Had
Jack’s POV
The taste of failure was bitter in my mouth as I watched the mystery bidder claim the mansion for two hundred million. I’d lost and worse, I’d failed to stop Anna from getting what she wanted. The thought of her smug satisfaction made my blood boil.
I stormed out of the auction house, Lucy trailing behind me in her ridiculous evening gown. The night air did nothing to cool my temper. When I spotted Anna’s slim figure heading toward her car, I couldn’t stop myself.
"Why?" I called out, my voice cutting through the air. "Why do you have to fight me on everything?"
Anna turned slowly, her expression cold and composed. "That mansion belonged to my mother’s family. But of course, you wouldn’t remember that, would you? I told you about it when we were married."
The memory hit like a slap. She had mentioned it during one of our rare dinners together. I’d been checking emails on my phone, half-listening as she talked about childhood summers there. Damn it.
"If it meant that much to you, you should’ve said something," I muttered, knowing how weak it sounded.
"Said something?" Her laugh was bitter. "Like I said something when you gave the Phoenix Project to Lucy? When you missed our anniversary? Or maybe when you didn’t come home on our wedding night?"
Each accusation hit like a blow. I wanted to defend myself, to explain that things weren’t that simple, but the words wouldn’t come.
"I’m done saying things to you, Jack," she went on, voice steady but cold. "Done explaining. Done hoping you’ll understand. Done having any expectations of you at all. We’re divorced. Whatever game you were playing by bidding against me tonight I’m not interested."
She turned to leave, but I reached out and grabbed her arm. The memory of the mark on her neck flashed through my mind, and my grip tightened without thinking.
"So you run off to Olympus Club instead? Is that your answer?"