Chapter 19
Joseph
Anna’s eyes met Joseph’s briefly. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but her eyes didn’t linger on his for long. She turned her attention back to the stage and gave Sean a small and sexy smile.
Joseph wanted to rip someone’s head off.
“What the hell does he think he’s doing?!” James roared from within. “She belongs to us…”
“No, she doesn’t,” Joseph muttered. “She divorced us.”
“Doesn’t mean someone else can take her,” James hissed in return.
Joseph just rolled his eyes and turned back to Anna who finally gained enough courage to speak.
“I guess it depends on your performance,” she chuckled.
This only made Sean’s grin grow even more.
“I will work even harder to marry you,” Sean agreed in front of the reporters and the gathering crowd. “We will even have children in the future. I even have their names picked out.” He winked at the cameras, which only made the reporters laugh.
Joseph’s chest began aching so badly, that he found it difficult to breathe. For a moment, he thought he could be terminally ill.
“I need to get out of here,” Joseph whispered to his wolf as he turned away.
(Mariana)
I watched as Joseph left the festival; the smile I kept plastered on my lips fell instantly. I wasn’t going to allow him to see my weakness anymore, which includes my fears. I just wanted him to stay away from me; maybe if he thinks I’m willing to marry Sean, he will finally leave me alone.
I had to push him out of my mind if I wanted to get on with my life. Joseph was in the past and there’s no reason I should have to think about him constantly. He was the one who neglected our marriage. He was the reason my wolf was in deep hibernation with the chance of never waking up again. This was his doing. I only wanted to love him and be a kind wife. He was the one who refused me.
I pressed the palm of my hand to my chest and took in a deep breath.
“He refused us,” I spoke softly for my wolf; I wasn’t sure if she could hear me or not. I just wish I could feel her.
As the festival came to an end, I changed into a more elegant gown. I was supposed to accompany Sean to a celebrity party. I almost dreaded going knowing Joseph and his family were most likely going to attend. But I had to make a small appearance, so I went without arguments.
“You look beautiful,” Sean said after I finished changing my clothes and fixing my hair.
I gave him a sheepish smile. I needed to tell him that I didn’t want to marry him. I thought of him as a good friend, but I wasn’t sure I could be romantically involved with him. He was a womanizer, and I was sick of being with guys that didn’t value me.
I figured it was something that could wait until after the party though; no use ruining a good evening.
The venue was already crowded when we arrived; a lot of people were already on the dance floor laughing. My last celebrity party was when I accompanied my brother, David. Everyone thought I was his lover and I’m pretty sure people still think I’m his lover.
I guess my plan to keep a low profile was working nicely.
“Miss Anna,” a familiar voice said from nearby. Sean went to mingle with some of the guests while I sat at our table, feeling exhausted from the day. Cher approached with a plastered smile on his face. He wasn’t with his wife so I’m assuming she found out about his affair with Emily. I wasn’t going to bring it up though; I folded my arms across my chest and rose my eyebrows. “I brought you a drink.”
It was a glass of white wine; I frowned and stared at the glass he handed me. I didn’t trust him, and I didn’t trust it.
“For what?” I asked, suspicion rising in my tone.
“Think about it as an apology,” he said with a grin as he brushed past me.
1/2
1 stared at the cup intently for a moment; trying to figure out if it was spiked. I caught a glimpse of Emily rot too far away. She kept stealing glances in my direction. I clenched my fists and tried hard to contain my anger. I didn’t like being played as a fool and that was exactly what she was doing.
