She had already wiped herself down, but his hand reached out again, wanting to touch her face.
“Disgusting! Don’t touch me.” The words slipped out without thought.
Trey frowned, completely misreading her. “How could I ever think you’re disgusting? The only thing I feel is terrible that you got hurt. If I’d known Pete would have an outburst like that, I never would have put the burden of raising him entirely on you.”
Khloe’s lips curled into a mocking smile.
“You’re right. If his real mother were here, she’d probably do a much better job. It’s a shame she’s gone, and his adoptive mother clearly doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
Trey froze, his expression tightening.
“What are you talking about? Pete is adopted. You’re his mother-the only mother he has, and you’re a wonderful one.”
He even reached out to ruffle her hair in a show of affection.
The sudden, intimate gesture made Khloe’s skin crawl.
Back in the bedroom, she immediately locked herself in the bathroom and turned on the shower.
Trey followed shortly after. He hadn’t come to check on her-his real purpose was to resume his campaign to move Angela in.
He called it a “discussion,” but Khloe knew her opinion was irrelevant. He and Angela were the real couple; she was just the placeholder.
“With the company’s IPO, I have no time for Pete, and I need you focused on work. Angela is a child development expert, and you saw how well Pete responds to her…”
“Fine. Whatever you want.”
She cut him off, her stomach churning with disgust the longer he spoke.
Trey instantly softened, mistaking her surrender for understanding. “Khloe, I knew you’d be reasonable. You know I only want what’s best for our family.”
His eyes melted into a pool of fake tenderness as he stood and moved to put his arms around her waist.
But Khloe turned sharply and held up her phone like a shield.
On the screen was a listing for a modern riverside villa in the city’s financial district-a more prestigious and expensive property than their current home.
“Trey, what do you think of this place?”
“It’s prime real estate. That area is incredibly valuable.” He frowned slightly, unsure of her angle.
“My birthday is next month. I’ve decided I want this villa as my gift.”
She smiled sweetly, her voice soft and melodic.
Trey had lied to her for two years. She had lost more than time; she had sacrificed her own career. To save his failing startup, she had dropped out of her graduate program and turned down a prestigious job offer.
In just two years, she had turned his business around. Soon, it would go public, making Trey a billionaire.
And she? She would be discarded, used up and thrown away.
There was no way she would let that happen.
In the past, Trey had always promised her the world. But Khloe had never asked for anything-until now.
Trey hesitated. “Why the sudden interest in real estate? Isn’t our house good enough for you?”
“This isn’t just a house, it’s an investment. And once your company is public, hosting clients at a prestigious address like this will give you the status you deserve. It’s for your benefit, too.”
Every word was carefully crafted to appeal to his ego and ambition, and she watched his doubts evaporate in real time.
In his mind, Khloe was still the selfless woman who couldn’t bear to spend his money on herself-always putting his needs first. A wave of guilt, mixed with a sudden surge of affection, washed over him.
“I don’t need a new house for status. Having you by my side is all the status I need.”
He moved to embrace her again, but she sidestepped his arms.
“I told you, it’s my birthday wish. Just humor me. You’re not going to be cheap about it, are you?”
Her playful tone disarmed him completely. Trey felt a familiar stir of desire. There was something different about her tonight, a new spark that unnerved and intrigued him.
“How much is it?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.