Chapter 482-He Doesn’t Share

Chapter 482: 482-He Doesn’t Share

Verity:

"As for why I left, I had no choice. I was threatened into leaving," I added, looking him straight in the eye.

He puckered his lips and nodded.

"Wow. You’re a tough cookie," he mumbled, rising from the couch.

"Anyway, I’m not going to let you marry either of my brothers. Just know that."

He leaned closer as he passed me, delivering those last words in a whisper.

"I’m heading back home now," he announced in an oddly grumpy voice before making his way toward the bedroom, probably to collect his coat and the rest of his belongings.

"And Verity," he called from inside, "if I find out that either of my brothers, or anyone else, has touched you, or that you’ve gotten intimate with someone..."

He left the threat unfinished.

I immediately hurried toward the bedroom, determined to hear what the fuck he intended to say next.

But as I rounded the doorway, I nearly collided with him.

He was standing right there, and before I could stop myself, I bumped straight into his chest, my steps faltering.

"It’ll get very nasty. I don’t share."

He spoke while leaning against the doorframe, bending toward me.

"You’re not the one who gets to decide what I can or can’t do, or what anyone else can or can’t do to me," I muttered, although the confidence in my voice was noticeably shaky.

A familiar smirk returned to his lips.

"Oh, honey, I am."

That was all he said before straightening up and walking over to the drawer to retrieve his watch, leaving most of his jewelry behind.

"Next time I come over, I want some room for my clothes."

My mouth fell open as he casually made that announcement and started walking toward the front door.

I turned around and hurried after him.

"You’re not welcome here anymore!" I called out, but he didn’t bother responding.

He reached the front door, opened it, and finally turned to look at me.

"I’m taking the other key. I don’t want a third key lying around anywhere in this house. And don’t let any other man into your home."

With that final warning, he walked out and slammed the door behind him, leaving me standing there in shock.

I could only hope this was another one of his attempts to terrorize me, because if he was actually serious about any of it, we were going to have a problem.

Once he was gone, I locked the door, securing it with the inside latch as well.

Now that I knew he had both the key and the access code, I couldn’t risk him barging in whenever he pleased.

Then I went around the house, checking every window to make sure it was securely shut.

The last thing I wanted was to walk into a room and find him sitting there as though he belonged.

After that, I retrieved my second phone.

I’d built a small safe into the wall behind one of the cabinets in my kitchen, and that was where I’d kept it hidden.

I took it out and switched it on.

Thankfully, Ragnar hadn’t discovered it, but now that he was barging into my home whenever he pleased, and knowing how thoroughly he’d been digging into my past, I was terrified he might uncover something that could expose me at any moment.

What bothered me most was why he hadn’t told his brothers everything he’d found.

Why hadn’t he warned them that he suspected me?

I mean, his brothers had already made it clear to him that they weren’t going to stay away from me, especially now that they were falling in love with me.

Even so, he could easily have planted a seed of doubt in their minds.

So why hadn’t he?

When I checked my phone, I found several missed calls from O.

Not only that, he’d sent me a few text messages, each containing nothing but question marks.

That was usually how we started our conversations.

I finally sent him a message, and he responded with the code we used to verify each other’s identities.

I entered my own code in return, confirming that it was indeed me.

O: where the heck have you been? Haven’t I told you to respond whenever I text you? I expect an answer the very minute I message you. Huh?

My jaw clenched as I read his text.

O: Now speak. Say, ’Yes, sir, I’m listening.’"

Honestly, I wanted to kill someone right then, and he would be first on my list.

Before I could even type a response, he called.

Taking a steady breath, I hurried to a corner of the kitchen, sank to the floor, and pressed the phone to my ear.

If my brother were here, this man wouldn’t have dared to exert so much control over me.

Everyone had used me. Everyone had fucking taken advantage of me when I was at my most vulnerable.

"Yes, sir, I’m listening," I replied with a heavy heart.

The last thing I wanted was to obey another man, especially when I had no desire to listen to him in the first place.

There was a difference between doing something willingly and being forced into it against your will.

"What are you doing, huh?" he grunted. "Have you become a slut now? Just because you’ve lost your virginity, you think you can spread your legs whenever you please? Is that what’s going on? Is that why Theodore and Jaguar are wrapped around your little finger? Because, in reality, they’re just stuck in your pussy?"

I closed my eyes and covered my free ear with one hand, trying to shut out his disgusting words.

When I opened them again, I saw Justin sitting in the opposite corner of the kitchen, his back against the wall, one leg stretched out and the other bent at the knee.

He shook his head at me.

"What are you doing, Verity? What are you doing? Fight for yourself. Don’t let anyone disrespect you. Don’t let me be the reason you’re so vulnerable. I’m supposed to be your strength," he complained.

But I knew he wasn’t real.