Chapter 22

I hear the roar of Nathaniel's car coming to a stop. He bursts through the door, his tie askew and his eyes wide with worry.

“Are you okay?” he demands, his voice a mix of panic and relief. “I got your message. Archer was here? I should have known ignoring him would make him take such measures. What happened?”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. “Your family is something else. Archer was awful, Nathaniel. The insults and insinuations. How do you live with such people?”

“I don’t; that’s why I don’t use the family name.”

“Archer repeated something Andrew said to me. He said that you are using me to finally fulfil your happily ever after with Anna.” Her name tastes bitter in my mouth.

At the mention of his ex-fiancé, Nathaniels's face darkens with anger.

“I am getting tired of everybody bringing that name up.” His voice is low and tense. “Archer had no right to come to my house and say those things to you. I promised to protect you, and I will. I need to talk to him and put