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Chapter 41

CHAPTER

FORTY-ONE

Maddie's voice was calm and even as she said, "I didn't say anything because it didn't seem important and because you seemed to have other things on your mind. I didn't want to add more stress."

"You should have told me, Madison." Josh's nostrils flared. "Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was for me to find out from my subordinates?"

"I didn't realize anyone else even knew." The words were true. To her knowledge, the only other people who knew were Adrienne and Brody. Bree and Fowler had already left that night when Kalani spoke with Maddie for the first time.

"You had to know news like this would spread like wildfire!" His voice rose with every word.

"I didn't do anything to Jared. You know that."

"It doesn't matter what I know." Josh narrowed his eyes. "What matters is what other people think ." He jammed his index finger into the air to emphasize his last three words.

Maddie had been trying to remain calm. But all that resolve seemed to disappear like a rainbow as storm clouds rolled in. "I thought the most important thing for you would be me, not your reputation and how this would make you look. I was only trying to watch out for you when I didn't tell you."

"I've told you everything that's involved here!" He stared at her, his eyes burning holes through her. "It's almost like you want to ruin this retreat."

Her mouth dropped open. " I want to ruin your retreat? Why would I want to do that? I didn't even want to be here, but you talked me into coming. All so it would look good for you and increase your prospects for becoming CEO."

"When you tried to break things off with me, I explained I was going through a rough patch. I thought you understood and cared about me enough to give us another chance. I guess I was wrong."

"And I thought you cared about me enough to remain faithful. But I guess I was wrong."

Josh froze. Then, at once, the dam broke.

"What?" His hands flew in the air. "What does that even mean?"

He wasn't going to change her mind that easily. Maddie could spot gaslighting a mile away.

"It means I know about all your extra little rendezvous," she told him. "I'm not stupid!"

Josh went still and stared at her, unblinking. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Stop lying. Let me start with you and Logan."

His eyes turned colder. "What about her?"

Maddie crossed her arms. "Don't play stupid. Everyone knows about the two of you, and you aren't even keeping your feelings a secret. I thought you were smarter than that. Or did you think I wouldn't notice?"

"What did you expect me to do?" He hurled the words at her. "You became so cold and distant. Don't you realize how important sex is to a man?"

Anger coursed through her veins. "Don't you realize how important it is to a woman that you respect her boundaries? That you remain faithful?"

They stared at each other several minutes, reams of unspoken conversations pulling taut between them.

Finally, Maddie shook her head and took a step back. "You know what? I'm done. I've been done. I'm tired of pretending we're going to be something we're not. The two of us started off strong, and I thought we had a lot of potential. But as we've tried to navigate life together it's become clear we're too different. We want different things in life. I'm so thankful I realized this before we tied the knot and made it official."

Josh closed his eyes, and his head dipped forward as if he'd suddenly sobered. "Madison . . . you don't mean that. We can make this right."

"It's too late to make things right." Her voice didn't leave any room for argument. "Goodbye, Josh."

Before he could stop her, Maddie stormed toward the door and slammed it shut as she left.

Maddie thought when she got back to her room that she might feel bad. Burdened. Sad.

Instead, she felt lighter than she had in months.

She should have stuck to her guns and called things off with Josh when she initially realized they weren't meant to be a couple. Staying together simply because he'd asked had been a major mistake.

Maddie had known it. She couldn't deny she had.

But at least she'd done the right thing now.

She dropped onto the edge of her bed and looked at the beautiful two carat diamond ring on her hand. She'd been so excited the day Josh had proposed in Central Park in a horse-drawn carriage. She hadn't had a single doubt in her mind when she said yes.

Thankfully, the two of them hadn't rushed to the altar. That would have been a huge mistake. Because so much had changed since then. Or perhaps more accurately, so much had been revealed since then.

Maddie took the ring off and set it on her nightstand.

If she'd been thinking things through clearly, she would have given the ring back while she was in Josh's room. However, she had no desire to go back there now and face him. She'd give him the ring later, after they'd both calmed down.

As she sat there, a door closed next door.

Josh's door. Was he leaving?

She held her breath, praying he didn't come to her room to try to talk again.

Preemptively, she rushed to her door and pressed her face into the peep hole.

Instead of coming to her room, Josh stomped down the hall, probably heading out to get a drink.

She squinted in surprise.

Maybe he wasn't as broken up over their split as she thought.

That was good. The realization didn't bother her. It was simply unexpected. But he should move on.

At least he wasn't trying to have another conversation with her.

As she took a step back, her gaze skimmed the floor and she gasped.

A folded piece of paper waited there.

She blinked. How had she missed that when she'd walked in earlier? She supposed she'd been too distracted by her breakup. And the paper was close to the wall, so when she'd stepped inside, the note most likely was obscured by the door.

Maddie's hands shook as she reached down to pick it up.

She opened it. It was another picture.

But this time, it wasn't a photo of Maddie from many years ago.

No, it was a photo of Josh. With Logan. Based on the surroundings, it had been taken here at the retreat.

The two were caught up in a lip-lock.

Want to know 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT JOSH? Here's one of many.

Someone wanted her to know about Josh's affairs. Someone didn't know she already knew and wanted to make sure the truth got out there.

Just what was the sender of these notes trying to accomplish? Mental distress? Emotional?

Or was this person's ultimate goal total destruction?

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