Chapter 23 Analise's POV I I gave you back your ring , Roger . I'm no longer your fiancé ," I quietly replied . " Is that why you sold our home ? Because you no longer want to marry me ? " Roger asked . He was acting like a jilted lover . " Elizabeth , please don't do this to me . Is it because I went to find your replacement ? I was doing that for you . So we could spend more time together . I didn't want you to have to work so hard anymore . You only have to design if you want to from now on . I thought I was doing you a favor by letting you step down from a stressful position . Stress is bad for you during pregnancy . I know you wanted to have children . I was doing this all for you , " Roger stated loudly . It was like he was trying to embarrass me now . Paint me as uncaring . It was my turn to be shocked . People were talking and looking in our direction . I had never known just how shameless Roger could be until this last week . He missed his calling . He could have been a very popular actor , given his ability to lie straight to my face convincingly . I couldn't even detect that he was lying , and I knew he was . " Roger , how dare you act like you did this for me ? I thought I knew you , but I was wrong . Seeing how you've treated me the last few months has been an eye - opener . You've stolen my designs , and now you want to steal my new ones . You want me to hand them over to the woman that you replaced me with , as if they were hers . Why ? Is it because she's not as good a designer as I am ? If so , why did you hire her ? Is she even qualified to replace me ? We could have chosen a replacement for me together . You're doing it like this makes it seem suspicious , " I replied . " Baby , what are you talking about ? " Roger nervously asked as he looked around . Sasha is still standing at the door like a scorned lover , which didn't help . " Are you rejecting me because you want to be with one of these . men ? Is that what you've been doing while I was out of the country , trying to hire your replacement ? Have you cheated on me , Elizabeth ? " " How dare you speak to her like that . I'm her brother , for God's sake , what a disgusting thing to say , " Seth replied . " How dare you , Roger ? How dare you accuse me of doing something so obscene ? Or maybe it's your own guilty conscience ? Where's your proof that I've done anything wrong ? I swear on my life that I will sue you for defamation . I haven't done anything wrong . Can you say the same ? Are you willing to bet your own life ? " I challenged . I already knew he couldn't . " I love you , Elizabeth . How could I cheat on you ? " Roger tried to sidestep . Say the words , Roger . Do y bet your life ? " I asked . " How dare you try to ask my son to say something like that , Elizabeth ? She is just your replacement at work , not in his heart ," Joyce loudly corrected . " Since you want to be involved in this , are you willing to bet your life on that , Joyce ? " I asked mockingly . She was much more superstitious than Roger was . This should be good . We're Thore " You heartless woman , are you trying to put a curse on me ? Do you see how she is , Roger ? Acting as if that is something trivial . I'm not betting my life on anything , especially when I know that he loves you . Why must you continue to attack him ? Are you trying to damage his reputation ? " Joyce responded a little less vehemently . But she still dodged my question . " I see the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree , Mrs. Cook . Neither of you is willing to admit that you're lying . I just want to remind you both that nothing that happens in the dark ever stays there . Enjoy your night . I want to freshen up before finding my seat . Please stay away from me . I have nothing else to say to either of you , " I told them before walking away . " How dare you speak to me like that , Elizabeth ? Have you no respect at all for your elders ? " Joyce's voice screeched from behind me . She was drawing a lot of attention , and none of it was good . I wasn't going to stand there and be recognized because of it . Roger still thinks he has the upper hand . I want him to think he still does . I want him to look me in the face when he finally understands what he lost . I knew Holden wanted to talk to me privately , but I didn't want to talk to him . I also wanted to avoid his shrew of a sister and her bully of a best friend . If they saw me speaking to him , they wouldn't hesitate to cause me problems . I wasn't about to sign up for that . Gwen and Emily had already gone to get us drinks and our auction paddles We had a balcony overlooking the venue , with a monitor on either side , which provided an excellent view of each item . I didn't want to have any more run - ins with people I knew . Although I enjoyed the argument between the Cook family , this night has been more draining than I expected it to be . I refreshed my lipstick and took a moment to collect myself . I had just calmed down and was heading for the door when it opened . I rolled my eyes as I smelled Joyce's loud perfume . I knew she wasn't going to stay quiet . " Why did you sell Roger's home ? What are you even trying to do to him ? This isn't over . What you did wast against the law , and I'm going to make sure that you're punished . You won't be so high and mighty in prison , " Joyce snapped out . " Joyce , it was my house that I bought for us to live in . Not for Roger to play house with Sasha . I paid for it , and I sold it . There is nothing that you or Roger can do about it . Well , you can try to outbid the man who bought it , but you're going to have to come in at over three million to get it . I've already signed the paperwork , so I think it's too late , " I replied as I tried to move past her . She shifted to block me . " You're a liar , and that's why you're not worthy enough to marry my son . That was Roger's house . You can't just make things up and call them the truth . Soon enough , everyone will know what you've done , " Joyce hissed out through clenched teeth . " Well , you're half right . One of us is a liar , but it's not me . Let me set you straight on a few things , Joyce . Roger needs me and my designs . I don't need him . I helped him achieve his dreams . Now that I see who he is , I'm withdrawing my support . Don't get mad at me , Mrs. Cook . I'm just giving Roger what he deserves , back to him with interest . Enjoy your moment in the sun . Every day turns into night . I hope you're prepared for it when it comes to you , " I replied , before pushing past her and exiting the restroom . I headed down the hallway and almost walked right into Roger , who was pacing anxiously . I guess Joyce MNK D 0 2/4 We're Dene managed to get free from him . " You need to keep better track of your things . Your mother sure had a lot to say . Unfortunately , none of it was true . She seems to be under the impression that my home belongs to you . You need to straighten her out because she's entertaining the idea of trying to throw me in prison for selling it . If the police do approach me about it , I won't hesitate to straighten her out , " I told him as I walked past . Roger grabbed my wrist to stop me . " Elizabeth , I see tell you are hurt and acting out . But I won't give up on you , on us . I love you and I want to marry you . I will give you time to calm down , but I know in my heart that you are the woman for me . I love you , Elizabeth , " Roger told me as he rubbed his thumb right above my wrist . The worst part ? He seemed to be sincere . I watched as Roger's eyes showed the panic he felt as I pulled away from his grasp . I heard Joyce's heels clicking sharply on the marble floor as she quickly walked towards us . I didn't need to go another round with her . I didn't want to speak to anyone from the Cook family anymore tonight . I immediately headed to the elevator and took it up to the second floor . I advised security of the group I was with before being allowed to head to my seat . I sank down with a sigh , taking the seat between Gwen and Emily . I thought this night would be easier . This situation is proving to be much more draining than I thought it would . I honestly thought that he would accept the ring back without an issue . He's already married . Going through with our sham wedding could get him in trouble . I can feel eyes on me , and look around the open balconies around me . We are hidden from view to those seated below , unless they are in one of the first three rows . I found them pretty quickly . Tiffany and Gretchen sat three balconies over with the Vaughn family . Mrs. Vaughn gave me a smile and a wave , and seemed happy when I waved back at her . But I ignored Tiffany and Gretchen . I think I should move forward with getting security assigned to me . I knew I would need to have them in place before the wedding , but it looks like I'll have to do it much sooner than anticipated . A knock sounded on the door to our balcony , and Emily walked over to answer it . My father stood there , his eyes scanning the room , before stopping on me . His eyes widened in surprise . My parents knew I'd been losing weight , but due to my bulky clothes , they hadn't known how much . I wanted to look good in my wedding dress . I haven't been this small since my Sophomore year in high school . I'm a size fourteen , but I don't want to get much smaller . I just wanted to strength train and become stronger . " Analise , this foolishness has gone on far enough . Your mother's worried sick . You're forcing me to take drastic measures I don't want to take . I can make the same plans for your business that I helped you make for Roger's . I don't want to have to do that to you , but I will . I can't allow a scandal like this to occur . He brought her here to parade her around in front of all of us tonight , like she belonged . I will not let him humiliate you , Ana . I love you too much to let that happen . You need to calm down and meet with us tomorrow night for dinner to discuss plans going forward . If you don't show up , I will have to start making some plans of my own ," my father announced . " Please make a reservation then , because I won't be coming back home ," I replied before turning away from him . That was my only concession . I needed our meeting to be in the open . I wouldn't put it past my father to try to force my hand .