Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Blake's words give me pause . My mind reeling . I exhale a slow , inaudible breath . 51 55 vouchers I want to deny it , but I can't . Because no matter how much I turn a blind eye to it , I know it's true . I've known it for the longest time now , and Kael ? He's never hidden it . He doesn't desire me in the way any other man would , or had . Kael ... he simply wants to possess everything that's ever been Cameron's . Past , present and future ... I see it in the way he looks at me . Like a trophy to be won . Like a conquest . Like his trump card in the war with his brother . Like something to mark and discard for the fun of it . Like something to ruin just to prove to Cameron that he is the better man . In the first year of our marriage , I'd let myself hope he'd see me for who I am , rather than just a tool to be used against his brother . Even if I knew that was the basis of everything we share . I hadn't hoped for much . My heart was already worn from yearning and loving Cameron while he belonged to someone else , But for a man I would call my husband , I'd hoped we could at least be cordial . I'd been vulnerable , weak and the more attentive he was to the newly born Liam , the more I'd let myself hope . By the end of the second year , I'd grown numb to it all . I'd finally realised the truth I hadn't let myself see in the beginning . With Kael , I've only ever been an extension of Cameron . In his eyes , that's all I'll ever be . His attraction to me is fueled by his hate for Cameron . In the same way Cameron is shaken by me , not because he regrets the past but because he doesn't want to lose to Kael . The Blackwood brothers had many differences . But in some ways , they were just the same men . Men who take what they want , without a single care for who gets hurt in the process . I know it , and yet .... My eyes move back to Kael . He shifts in his chair , his jaw tightening visibly like he's fighting a losing battle with his own body . The sight is unsettling . Not just because of what it means ... but because of what it does to me . 14:18 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 26 公司 55 vouchers I shouldn't care . Because of him , the past three years have been hard . He reminded me at every turn that this marriage is nothing more than a contract . One day , he's cold and the other , he's cruel . He never lets me get too close , he doesn't allow me a moment of warmth ... not without paying for it somehow . So why then is it so difficult ? Now , with him wrecked and drugged before me , why can't I walk away ? " Don't just stand there staring , " Blake mutters from the doorway , his voice tinged with irritation . " Either leave or ... " He trails off , shaking his head . " You know what ? Forget it . Kael was right ." I shoot him a glare over my shoulder . " You think this is easy for me ?! " " You shouldn't have come then , " Blake snaps back . I want to argue , but he's right . I shouldn't . I'd feared for a moment that something terrible had happened to Kael when he hung up so abruptly . Not that this isn't terrible , but I thought the worse . Now that I've seen he's fine , breathing ... strong enough to look this sinful , I should just leave . There's nothing I can do here anyways . Like he can hear my thoughts , Kael's eyes open again . Just partly . His pupils are unfocused , but they land on me . The disparity between this Kael and the Kael I know shocks me . This isn't the same man whose harsh words cut sharper than a knife . The one who barely acknowledges me in public unless it's convenient . That Kael would never look at me like this . Something curls in my stomach , something that feels too much like intrigue ... and a semblance of control , I hate it . Because this isn't how I want to win . Laila ... He whispers my name in a single breath . His tone is husky , " You came ... I came ? Like he hadn't been the one to lure me here . Like I'd thrown myself into his web , rather than being pulled in by him . Even in his weakened state , Kael can't be underestimated . " Why did you call me ? " I ask hesitantly , " Why me ? Of all people ? " Kael reveals a ghost of a smile . " Why not ... you ? " His response is barely a response at all . I can't tell if his mind is too clouded by the drugs to put together a 14:18 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 26 response , or if he's doing this on purpose . " Cold beds ... colder nights ... " He grunted , " That wasn't our bargain ... " That statement confirms one thing , Kael knows exactly what he's doing . 12 55 vouchers " Walk away Laila ... " He trails off , exhaling a slow breath . His tongue darts out to wet his lips and my traitorous eyes trail the motion . My mouth goes dry . Since when was that simple motion so captivating ? Every part of him tells me that he's in pain ... pain wrapped in something darker . Hunger . " That's something you're good at . Running . " He continues , Rage surges in my veins , warring with something else . Something I have no business feeling for Kael . He'd called me in his weakened state only to prove what ? That I'm still the same weak woman from three years ago who can't follow through with anything ? He'd let me see him like this only to ask me to leave knowing I would choose to run away again ? It was a cruel joke . " The woman who's faithful to a man she shared with another woman for three years ." Kael grunts , The words cut deeper than ever . Because he's right ... I haven't been with any other man but Cameron . He was my first ... my only , And Kael knows everything . He's called me here to pit me against my past , and have a laugh at how I squirm . He's in pain and he wants me to be too . He's not asking me to help him through it ... he's showing me the difference between us . " I didn't ask for it to be Cameron who dropped Liam off . " I know Kael well enough to know he must have heard by now . That's why he's on edge . I turn to leave , "Face it , Laila . Your marriage didn't end three years ago .... it ended the moment you lowered your pride and chose to be pathetic " 1 pause in my step , catching myself . I'm running away again ... proving him right . My hands clench into fists at my sides . Whirling around , I cross the distance between us in a few strides . As I walk , my hands undo the button of my shirt and by the time I stand in front of him , my shirt hangs loosely on my shoulders . Kael's hungry eyes are on me , his gaze raked my exposed skin , pupils dilating visibly , " What do you ... think you're doing , Laila ? " He hisses , 14:18 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 26 51 E 55 vouchers " I'll take the pain away . I'll give you every inch of me , right here ... right now ... " My tone is low , daring , " But only if you beg for it ... "