He Wants An Open Marriage? Done!

Even after Margaret walked out, the heavy atmosphere in the room did not simmer. It stayed boiling hot.

Without Margaret at the table, the dinner dissolved quickly. Guests exchanged stiff farewells, eager to escape the tension that still clung to the room.

The moment she was alone in her seat, Roxanne let out a sharp breath, her shoulders sagging. She had to succeed here. She could not afford to let a single thing block her path.

She had waited too many years for a real opportunity, and no one, not Christian, not Margaret, not a single soul, was going to ruin it.

She turned her head and saw Richard walking straight toward her. A smile was fixed on his face, but his dark eyes reflected pure worry. Before he could reach her, Cara stepped into his path, her hand reaching for his sleeve. He shrugged her off instantly, but Roxanne turned her eyes away before she could watch the rest play out.

"You have some serious guts going up against my mother like that," Pamela’s voice drifted over from across the table.

Roxanne looked up and shook her head, her fingers tracing the edge of her napkin. "It wasn’t my intention to—"

"I’m very impressed," Pamela interrupted, a genuine smile breaking across her face.

"I really don’t want to go against her," Roxanne admitted, exhaling slowly to calm her racing thoughts. "That would be foolish. She is fierce, brilliant, and incredibly successful. If anything, I would love to learn from her."

Pamela’s eyes narrowed slightly, a teasing glint in her gaze. "Mother would probably lose her mind if she knew you actually admired her."

Roxanne smiled, but the warmth didn’t last. Her brows drew together in a tight line. "I just can’t understand why she hates me so much when she doesn’t even know me," she whispered, her voice dropping as she shook her head.

Pamela moved around the table, stopping right next to Roxanne’s chair. "It’s not actually about you," she said softly, leaning in. "It’s just that my brother has never looked at a woman the way he looks at you. I think that is what scares Mother the most."

Roxanne’s heart hitched. "How does he look at me? He’s engaged, Pamela. He shouldn’t be looking at me at all."

Pamela snorted, bypassing the question entirely. "Why on earth are you married to a jerk like that Christian guy anyway? Watching him stand there made me want to squeeze his neck."

Roxanne’s posture slumped further as the reality of the empty dining room hit her. The dinner was over, which meant she had to go back to reality and deal with whatever storm was brewing at home.

She shook her head, her voice thick with exhaustion. "It’s a little too late to be asking myself that question."

Pamela gave a sympathetic nod. "Fair enough. All I can really offer you tonight is a glass of wine, my best wishes, and my support. It might not be much in this house, but it’s yours."

Roxanne managed a small, tired smile. "Thank you. I appreciate it more than you know."

"Now tell me," Pamela said, leaning closer, her curiosity flaring. "What is the real story between you and my brother?"

Roxanne sighed and glanced over her shoulder. A few yards away, Richard and Cara were arguing in fierce, hushed whispers. Richard abruptly shrugged her off again and turned on his heel, striding directly toward Roxanne. Cara shouted after him, demanding he not walk out on her, but he ignored her completely.

Pamela took one look at his approaching expression and shook her head. "I guess that’s my cue to leave," she murmured, patting Roxanne’s shoulder. "But I will be back for that story later. Good luck."

Roxanne stood up, intending to leave before Richard reached her. She barely made it two steps before Richard caught up with her. A small, involuntary gasp escaped her lips as he suddenly held her wrist.

"What are you doing, Richard?" she hissed, her eyes darting around the lingering staff. "People are watching."

"Let them watch," Richard growled softly. He didn’t break his grip. Instead, he pulled her smoothly out of the dining room, guiding her down a dim, secluded side corridor away from the main foyer.

Roxanne twisted her wrist, trying to wrench herself free from his iron hold. "Let me go, Richard. I don’t want any more trouble tonight," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "I promised your mother I wouldn’t bring scandal to her doorstep, and I intend to keep my word."

Richard’s jaw hardened to stone. He stepped into her space, slamming his palm against the wall right beside her head, trapping her completely. His hot breath fanned across her face as he stared down at her.

"Why have you been ignoring me all night? What happened, Roxanne?" he demanded. His voice was deep, masculine, and terrifyingly calm.

Roxanne forced herself to look away from his intense gaze, her chest heaving against the fabric of her dress. She kept her lips pressed tight, refusing to answer.

Richard stepped even closer, his large frame completely pinning her against the cool drywall. The sheer heat radiating from his body crowded out the rest of the world, making her breath hitch.

"Talk to me," he murmured, his dark eyes dropping to her lips for a fraction of a second. "Why are you pushing me away like this?"

Roxanne’s pulse raced erratically, a dangerous heat pooling deep in her chest. She could smell the crisp scent of his cologne, overwhelming her senses. "You can’t talk to me like that," she managed to whisper, her hands pressing against his chest to create space.

Richard closed his eyes for a brief, agonizing second, letting his forehead drop forward until it rested gently against hers. The vulnerability of the gesture made her throat tight. "Please, Roxanne. Just answer me. What did I do?"

Roxanne closed her eyes, swallowing past the ache in her throat. She pushed against his solid weight, forcing the brutal truth out into the open.

"Because you lied to me," she said.

Richard pulled his head back, his heavy brows pulling together into a deep frown. "Lied to you? Roxanne, I have been nothing but transparent with you from the moment we met. What are you talking about?"

Roxanne opened her eyes, meeting his gaze head-on with fierce resolve. "Why did you never bother to mention that you are engaged to Cara?"

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