On the jet, going to the mountains...

Roth trying to piece together what happened...

“What knowledge did Colette try to protect you from?”

She cursed his eidetic memory and the fact that he’d been close enough to hear Colette whisper that to her.

“None of your business,” she said in a stifled voice.

“Anything that concerns you is my business,” he hissed. “The fact that Tucker approached you and put his hands on you is my business. So is the fact that something happened that caused you to be sick.”

He lifted her chin, forcing her to meet pitiless black eyes.

“Who are you protecting?”

If he only knew she was protecting herself and the shred of dignity she had left. She refused to reveal more of her shortcomings to a man who would fling it in her face in future. He would probably shrug off what Warren said about her parents since he wasn’t defined by his. He thrived despite his mother’s mixed feelings toward him. She thought she made peace with her father’s memory, but Warren revived her old insecurities of being unwanted, inadequate, and unlovable. Roth didn’t understand the need to be accepted. He didn’t care about anyone’s approval or love while she was withering away without it.

“Was it Warren, Tucker, or someone else who upset you?”

When she tried to jerk away, he tightened his hold, practically pulling her off the chair and onto his lap.

"Don't you know I’d kill any man who hurt you?”

Of course he didn’t include himself in that. Tucker Baldwin publicly ridiculed her while Warren shredded her childish beliefs about her parents and identity, but she could have withstood anything if she could lean on him. If she could trust him. If he truly cared about her and had the capacity to love her through the emotional lashing she’d taken, she would be invincible.

But she didn’t have him.

She didn’t have anything, not even the illusion that she’d been loved by her parents. Having her foundation crumble beneath her left her in free fall. Roth extended his hand, offering temporary solace, but that wasn’t enough. She couldn’t pretend anymore. What occurred at the Ball ripped the rose colored glasses from her eyes and forced her to see her barren, hopeless situation for what it was and it was tearing her apart. What Warren and Tucker did paled in comparison to the pain Roth had dished out over and over again. She kept believing he would change and clung to his promises, but he conned her for the last time. She was so done.

“I’m not going to let this go.”

Roth's voice was soft and silky, a contrast to the violence emanating from him.

“You should,” she whispered. “There’s nothing you can do.”

The damage had already been done. Roth couldn’t change Colette’s history... or hers, for that matter. There was no point in sharing Warren’s taunts about his agenda or the truth of her parents relationship.

“Let me be the judge of that.” He clasped her face between his hands, brushing away a tear before it got halfway down her cheek. “You know I’d do anything for you.”

Immediately her lashes lowered, concealing the derision that filled her eyes. He’d buy her over fifty million in jewelry to wear for one event, donate a staggering amount to her favorite charities, and promised a legendary settlement when they divorced, but he couldn’t do the one thing she needed most and was completely free.

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

Copyright © 2025 Mia Knight. All Rights Reserved.