Page 41 of Tangled in Temptation

She shook her head fiercely, her blond hair flying around her face like a halo. “No, Timothy! This isn’t about Paisley liking me or not. It’s about what Regina can do to manipulate the situation. She sees me as a threat to her plans. No matter what I do, she’s going to win this.”

“Catherine, you are not a threat.”

“No shit,” she hissed. “I want nothing to do with that woman. You can’t cut her out of your life, fine, but I’m not sticking around.”

“I divorced Regina for a reason. I don’t want her back. She has been cut out of my life.”

“She let herself into your apartment. She’s not out of your life!”

I let out a sigh. She was making sense. There was no way I could claim she was out of my life when I was stuck talking to her almost every day.

“Things are a little complicated right now because I’m trying to get Paisley,” I said. “It’s not going to be a forever thing. I want to explain. It’s complic—”

“Don’t you dare tell me it’s complicated,” she hissed.

I tried to reach for her hand, but once again, she pulled away. “I promise you; she is going to be out of my life very soon. I’m working on something.”

Her gaze bore into mine, a mixture of doubt and hurt. “How can I be sure of that? She’s in your life, and she’s poisoning everything. I heard you talking on the phone last night. I know you were married for a long time, and you probably have some weird connection to her. I won’t pretend to understand what it is you two have, but I get it. There is someone for everyone, and you are hers. I’m not going to break up your unhappy home.”

I reached out to touch her arm, but she recoiled. “Don’t. I’m leaving.”

“Catherine, I’m doing my best to handle this situation. I won’t let her destroy everything. Please, just give me some time to work it out.”

She shook her head, her frustration evident. “Regina was right. We’re different breeds, different classes. I can’t compete with her world, Timothy. I’m not cut out for it. I don’t want to try. It’s not worth it. I don’t want that kind of drama in my life. I don’t go to galas or throw dinner parties for billionaires. I don’t wear three pounds of makeup and get my nails done every week. I’m not that person. I don’t want to be.”

I felt a surge of panic, desperate to make her understand. “It’s not about classes or worlds. It’s about us, and I won’t let Regina dictate our fate. I don’t care about hair and makeup.”

“Yes, you do,” she whispered. “Whenever we’re going to be seen in public together, you get me all dolled up so I fit in your world. You’re making me another version of her.”

“No! That’s not it. I love the way you look in your stained jeans and bare face. You have a natural beauty about you. You don’t need all that shit.”

“You want to make sure I wear whatever you think is appropriate to be seen with. I’m not even mad at you for it. It’s your world. You live in it. I don’t have to. She’s right. Maybe I’m just not cut out for your world.” She gestured around the room. “None of this is me. I can’t live like this. I don’t want to live like this.”

Anger and frustration welled up within me. “Is this just about money?”

“I could give a shit about your money,” she shot back. “Don’t you dare try to make me sound like her.”

“Do you feel anything at all for me, Catherine, or is this just casual, as you said? Are you willing to give me the chance to fix this?”

Her eyes flickered with a mixture of emotions. “I won’t let myself be part of Regina’s destruction. You are choosing to let her rule you. Tell me you’ll walk away from her for good.”

I found myself at a loss for a response. She waited for me to say something, and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

A sad smile played on her lips as she nodded. Her smile was one that said goodbye. “I need to go,” she said softly.

She walked away, and I didn’t try to stop her again. The weight of her words hung in the air as she left. I stood there, grappling with a whirlwind of emotions. I was pissed, but there was an overwhelming sense of loss. Regina’s manipulations were hurting too many people. She had no right to treat anyone like that. Catherine walking away was understandable. Being with me before I got the Regina situation figured out was going to be hell for her.

The silence in my apartment was deafening after Catherine left. I paced around, the cold emptiness of the room matching the void she left behind. She was pissed at me for not standing up to Regina, but she didn’t understand what was at stake. How could I abandon Paisley? And I was working on an exit strategy, but it wouldn’t happen overnight.

I had to try and explain again. In a desperate attempt to salvage what remained of our relationship, if it could even be called that, I decided to call her. I needed her to hear my side of the story, to know that she wasn’t just casual—she was everything. I knew she’d thrown the word in my face to show me exactly what it felt like, but I didn’t believe she felt that way. After last night, there was no way she viewed our relationship as casual. Regina was a manipulative bitch, and Catherine was playing right into her hands.

I called Catherine’s phone, but she sent me right to voicemail. I sighed, not surprised that she wasn’t going to answer. I sent her a text, begging her to call me.

I waited, making myself an espresso and trying to think of how I could convince Catherine to ignore Regina’s rants. I knew how cruel she could be. I’d been on the receiving end of some of those barbs she threw. She didn’t hold back. When she was on one of her rampages, she could be downright vicious.

After trying her cell again and going straight to voicemail, I decided to call the hotel. I was placed on hold.

“Hello?” a woman answered.