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Chapter 23
Amber waited until after work to take a taxi to River Haven, but Victoria opened the door.
Victoria was wearing pajamas and seemed surprised to see Amber. “Amber? But Blake said you wouldn’t be here today?”
Amber’s face drained of color as her eyes quickly scanned the interior. She shoved Victoria aside.
Victoria stumbled back several steps, a flash of coldness crossing her eyes before she looked up with feigned gentleness.
“If you and Blake have a misunderstanding, you should clear it up sooner rather than…..”
Before she could finish, Amber turned and slapped her hard across the face.”
“Victoria, you make me SICK!”
Victoria touched her cheek, falling silent.
Amber heard footsteps behind her, then felt herself being roughly pushed aside.
Marcus was the first to reach Victoria’s side. His imposing presence was heightened by his six-foot-two frame.
“Vicky, are you okay?” he asked urgently.
Victoria shook her head, the five finger marks distinctly visible on her face. She gave Amber a pained smile.
“Amber, I don’t know what I did to make you so angry. Couldn’t you at least tell me first?”
Amber’s gaze fell on Marcus, and hearing more footsteps behind her, she realized all of Blake’s close friends were there-they’d just been upstairs.
Apparently, Victoria had “accidentally” spilled juice on herself and had taken a shower downstairs. She hadn’t expected to run into Amber.
But during those few minutes after Amber entered, Victoria hadn’t explained anything-she’d deliberately wanted Amber to misunderstand.
Every time Amber faced situations like this, she found herself defenseless.
she opened her mouth to speak but caught Marcus’s disgusted look.
Blake should have divorced you ages ago. Women like you… we feel dirty just being in the same room with you.”
For years, Amber had bottled everything up, eventually finding her way through by herself. Initially, she’d been devastated by everyone’s dislike, but now she understood-those incidents weren’t her fault. She didn’t need to shoulder all the blame.
If you can’t stand being in the same space as me, why don’t you just fuck off to Mars?” she snapped.
n recent years, Amber had always remained quiet, hanging her head silently no matter who insulted her. She rarely fought back like this.
io Marcus was momentarily stunned by her response. Furious, he stepped forward. “What did you just say?!”
Victoria grabbed his arm and sighed. “Marcus, let it go.”
Marcus was Blake’s close friend. They’d been tight ever since Blake had been brought back to the family.
He took a deep breath, his dark gaze fixed on Amber. “What’s the point of manipulating Blake into staying with you? You’re the person he despises most in this
world.”
“And how is that ANY of your business? Even if he despises me, I still got him in my bed. We’re legally married-unlike you, too chickenshit to confess to Victoria after all these years. You watch her chase after Blake like some pathetic coward. You’re even more useless than I am-what right do you have to judge
me?”
