Even the reason I'd taken that million dollars and left him all those years ago, I no longer cared to dig into.
That memory, that love. The moment I discovered his affair, none of it mattered anymore.
The light in William's eyes dimmed, going dark as stagnant water.
"On what grounds?" Every word ground out through clenched teeth. "It's always been you. You come when you want, you leave when you want. Have you ever, for one single second, considered how I feel?"
He hated me. Every syllable dripped with it.
"When my family disapproved, I eloped with you. When the Sanchezes blacklisted me and I couldn't find work anywhere, I hauled bricks at construction sites just so you could paint in your studio with clean hands and a clear conscience." His jaw tightened. "And what did you do?"
William laughed. Without warning, his eyes went red.
"You played me for a fool. One day you told me we'd be together forever. The next, you went to my mother and took a million dollars to run off to Northgate."
"In your heart... I was only ever worth a million dollars."
Northgate.
A dark basement. A sickening, clammy sensation flashed through my mind.
I forced the nausea down and smiled bitterly. "I've already given you ten years to make up for it, Mr. Sanchez. Isn't that enough?"
William opened his mouth to say something else, but the door swung open and someone walked in.
He reined in his expression instantly. The visitor was Piers Rodriguez, a key partner of Sanchez Group.
"Mr. Sanchez, your secretary wasn't at her desk, so I let myself in." Piers smiled politely.
William let out a low grunt through his nose. All he could do was press his curled index finger against his lips and bite down.
The argument with me had already drained him. He was teetering on the edge of an explosion.
Piers glanced at me and clearly assumed I was just a cleaner. He pulled a contract from his briefcase without a second thought.
"About the proposal from last time, Mr. Sanchez. We're very pleased with it. I came today specifically to sign."
He stepped forward with the contract, but William raised a hand and growled, "Stop."
Piers froze mid-step, a flicker of displeasure crossing his brow.
William recovered quickly. "I think the proposal could still be refined. Give me a moment to gather the team for a meeting."
Piers chuckled. "Always thorough, Mr. Sanchez. Well then, why don't I just call everyone up to your office right now?"