Chapter 53

“Do these”—he gripped the papers—“have anything to do with Ben?”

Why didn’t he see that this whirlwind marriage just wasn’t meant to be permanent? She couldn’t be with someone who could not only make her give herself to him so completely, he demanded it. He was only clinging to her so hard because he didn’t want to have his father’s regrets. They didn’t make sense for the long haul . . . but he deserved her honesty.

“No, I really don’t love him. I am not leaving you for someone else. I’m just leaving so I can go back to my life.”

Hunter swallowed again, fists clenching at his sides. And for all that he looked furious and proud, his vulnerability was unmistakable. The fact that she wanted a divorce was killing him. Even though parting was the sane choice, guilt and anguish sliced her stomach like a machete.

“This is all crap. You want to leave because you submitted so totally that it scared you. I won’t let you run from us.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m n