Flawed Heart (House Of Obsidian #1) by Bella Jewel Page B

challenges.
    I swallow.
    “If you don’t want my body anywhere near yours again after this night, I’ll respect that. I won’t give up trying to see my daughter, but I’ll respect you. But right now, I need to come and show you how fucking badly I’ve missed you. Now you either make that easy, or hard. Which is it going to be?”
    His words both hurt and relieve me. I want him, but I want what’s best for my daughter more. If he promises to leave me alone and remove the pressure, then I might just be able to figure out something that works for all of us. But right now, Immy is safely tucked away sleeping at another house, and I’m here . . . desperate, body hot, wanting my husband.
    I breathe the address into the phone before I can think twice about it.
    He hands up before anything more can be spoken.
    Shit.
    What did I just sign myself up for?

CHAPTER NINE
THEN – MAX – COLLEGE
    W here the hell is she?
    Belle and I are meant to be going to the yearly college charity ball together, but she’s not here yet. Demi protested in big ways when she assumed I would still take her. Of course that shit wasn’t going to happen. It’s like suddenly it hit her, that I’m really not coming back. She stormed out of the cafeteria screeching about revenge. Instead, I asked Belle. God, her face lit up like the Fourth of July.
    Now she’s not here.
    Maybe she’s nervous? She didn’t want me to pick her up; instead she wanted to meet me at the entrance. It was her thing, so I didn’t argue even though I didn’t like it. I should have picked her up. Everyone has gone inside, but she’s still not here. I can hear the soft music coming out of the door. Something isn’t right, Belle isn’t the kind to stand someone up. Fuck, things have been amazing between us. She wouldn’t do this.
    I pull out the phone from my tuxedo jacket and glance down at it. Nothing. Fuck . I stare around once more then I decide to check inside. Maybe she came from a different direction and is already in there? I punch out a message to her, and then I enter the massive hall. People are dancing, eating, chatting and laughing. It’s kind of like the prom all over again. I scan the room, and catch Reese with Emily.
    I wave to him, and he gives me a confused look. It’s like he’s asking where Belle is. Yeah, I know she’s not here.
    I shove through the crowd, and see Demi standing with a group of her minions near the punch table. I stride over, having a horrible feeling that she might have had something to do this with. Call it instinct. I stop when I’m in front of her and she glances at me, batting her eyelashes. “You look hot, Max.”
    “Where the fuck is Belle?”
    She gives me an innocent expression. “I have no idea.”
    I step up close. “Don’t you fuck with me, Demi. Do you honestly believe that all this nasty shit will make me want you back? I don’t fucking want you, because you’re a sloppy, pathetic lay and a fucked up person.”
    Her cheeks grow red and she spits, “What’s she got that I don’t?”
    “A fucking soul. Now where is she?”
    She shrugs, her face bitter. “I think she had an issue with her dress.”
    Everyone around her chuckles, and my temper flares. “Where is she?” I roar.
    She shrugs again.
    I turn and charge towards the bathrooms and back entrance. I just bet Belle is in the bathrooms. Demi’s comment about her dress makes me feel sick. I find the female toilets and shove past the women in the line, who all screech at me. I push the door open and yell out, “Belle?”
    Silence.
    Then a sob.
    I run towards the end stall and press my hands against the door. “Baby, you in there?”
    “Go away, Max,” she whispers.
    “No,” I say. “You open this door, or I’ll climb it.”
    Silence.
    Then the lock turns.
    I push the door open and step in, glancing down at her. She’s got a beautiful, long, baby blue dress on. But it’s torn. Someone has ripped it, like a modern day Cinderella. She’s sitting