His grip tightened, but his voice softened, an unsettling mix of concern and arrogance. "I don’t want to hurt you. If you're willing, we can go back to the way things were."
Back to being his hidden lover? The one he kept in the shadows? Never again.
He continued, attempting to reason with me. "Kimberly, you have to understand. Someone from my family is expected to marry someone of equal status and background."
"The Warren family and my family have been close for years, and Mary Warren now runs one of their subsidiaries. Marrying her is the best arrangement for me."
I glared at him, my heart racing. "And what about me? What am I to you?"
He chuckled, his voice dripping with condescension. "Kimberly, I’ve made myself clear. As a Literature teacher, is this really beyond your level of understanding?"
"Forget your family background. Let’s talk about you. You’re just a small-time teacher who doesn’t grasp the rules of the business world. How could you ever stand by my side?"
His absurd words ignited a fresh wave of anger, and I slapped him again. Caught off guard, he shoved me against the car.
"Are you crazy?"