Maximus Flashback PT. 1

“I’ve always known you were stupid, but I never imagined you’d be this big of a fool.”

Jasmine flinched.

“An affair?”

Her father’s soft, sinister tone made her lightheaded with terror.

“An affair with James Roth?”

She clasped her trembling hands together in a death grip.

“Did you forget that you’re engaged to Ford Baldwin?”

Her eyes filled with tears. “Dad—”

“Did you?”

His guttural roar made her cower. She held up a hand in a silent plea for mercy. She was close to passing out. She never imagined he would find out about her and Roth. In her mind, what they shared was happening in an alternate reality that didn’t touch her life as Maximus Hennessy’s daughter. Now her lives were clashing, causing catastrophic damage, and she had no idea what to do.

“Answer me, Jasmine.”

Her father’s voice had reverted back to quiet. She wasn’t sure which tone was worse. Both of them made her want to drop to her knees.

“No,” she choked.

“No what?” he snapped.

“No, I didn’t forget I was engaged,” she whispered.

Her father’s rage filled the room, making it hard to breathe.

“So you pulled this stunt to get back at me. You weren’t content disobeying orders at my party and helping him, you decided to flush your future down the toilet, drag my name through the mud, and jeopardize my partnership with Parker as well.”

“No, that wasn’t my intention at all!”

“So what was your intention?”

She opened her mouth, but no words came to mind. She hadn’t attempted to define what was between her and Roth. All she knew was it felt right. He felt right. So right that she refused to consider any consequences. She lived in the moment, taking everything he could give her, knowing at some point, she’d have to return to the straight and narrow path her father laid out for her. But this one thing she claimed for herself. She lapped up everything Roth offered and demanded more. He made her feel desirable and beautiful and that there was nothing wrong with her.

Her father’s mouth twisted in disgust. “You can’t believe he actually cares for you. Do you really think he would give you a second glance if you weren’t my daughter? What makes you special from all the rest? Are you beautiful or exceptional in any way? No. Your only appeal is that you’re a Hennessy. Can’t you see that?”

**This is a raw draft of Bitter Sins. Please do not share or distribute.

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