Bait for a Gentleman novel Chapter 137

Audrina had zero patience left for his games. She snapped her head to the side and slammed her elbow viciously into his chest.

Zachary let out a sharp grunt of pain, his grip loosening just enough.

Taking advantage of the opening, she shoved herself backward. Her lower back collided heavily with the edge of the vanity. The dull thud echoed in the room as jars and perfume bottles rattled violently.

Pain flared hot across her back, but it was infinitely better than being trapped in his arms.

Zachary rubbed his chest, his expression darkening rapidly. He stared at her in silence for two seconds before taking a heavy step forward.

Audrina didn't back down.

She threw her hand out, pressing it flat against his chest, locking her elbow to keep him exactly an arm's length away.

"We are broken up, Zachary!" she snarled, glaring directly into his eyes. "I play nice out there out of respect for Waldo. But there's no audience in this room, so drop the pathetic act! You make me sick!"

Zachary stood frozen against her hand, the dull ache in his chest still throbbing.

He looked down at her hand pressed against him, and when his gaze finally lifted back to her face, all the warmth had completely vanished from his eyes.

"What is so damn special about Sebastian Hawthorne?" he demanded, his voice trembling with bitter resentment. "Is it because a family like the Hawthornes has more power than the Suttons? Is it because his status in Kingshire makes mine look like a joke?"

Audrina held his gaze without a shred of hesitation.

"I don't know what's so special about him," she said flatly.

"But he would never play the perfect, devoted partner in public, only to immediately crawl into bed with another woman."

"He would never throw me to the wolves to face the media alone while he hid in the shadows like a coward. Especially when he was the one pulling the strings."

"And he would never force himself on me."

She fired off the words in rapid succession, her chest heaving with every breath.

Zachary fell silent. The toxic darkness in his eyes slowly faded, instantly replaced by a meticulously crafted mask of gentle regret.

"A family like the Hawthornes will never accept a woman like you," he said softly, leaning into her space again. "Audrina, come back to me. We'll forgive and forget. We won't bring up the past ever again. Okay?"

Audrina let out a hollow laugh. "Don't you think it's a little late for this?"

When she first agreed to marry Zachary, she genuinely wanted to build a peaceful life together.

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