Chapter 6 - THE ONE NIGHTAtlanta had begun with bourbon.
That was not an excuse.
Dorian knew it.
He told Arielle anyway.
They met in Miriam’s office because Arielle no longer wanted private conversations at home.
That hurt him.
It should.
“I was at the investment conference,” Dorian began.
Arielle waited.
“Cambria was there.”
“Coincidence?”
“I thought so.”
“Now?”
“I don't know.”
“Continue.”
“We had dinner with eight people.”
“Then?”
“Drinks upstairs.”
“Then?”
“Everyone left.”
Arielle’s expression did not change.
“Except her.”
“Yes.”
Dorian looked ashamed.
“I was angry with you.”
“Why?”
“You had told me you weren't coming to Evelyn’s anniversary dinner.”
“Because I had a client presentation.”
“I know.”
“Did Cambria know?”
Dorian looked up.
“Yes.”
Arielle’s chest tightened.
“How?”
“I told her.”
“Why?”
“She asked why you weren’t there.”
“So she already knew the family dinner schedule.”
Dorian froze.
He had never considered that.
Arielle had.
“Continue.”
“We talked.”
“About me.”
“Yes.”
“Then?”
“She kissed me.”
“And you stopped her.”
“No.”
His voice broke.
Arielle stared.
Dorian continued.
“I kissed her back.”
“Then you slept with her.”
“Yes.”
Arielle looked toward the window.
For all her preparation, hearing it directly hurt.
Dorian said:
“I hated myself afterward.”
“Not enough to tell me.”
“No.”
“Not enough to stop seeing her.”
“I met her twice because she kept threatening to tell you.”
“That’s called leverage.”
“I know.”
“Did she ask for money?”
“No.”
“Did she ask you to leave me?”
“Yes.”
“What did you say?”
“No.”
Arielle finally looked at him.
“Why?”
Dorian seemed confused.
“Because I love you.”
Arielle laughed quietly.
The sound hurt him.
“You have strange methods.”
“I know.”
“No, Dorian. I don't think you do.”
She leaned forward.
“You keep telling yourself the affair happened because you were drunk, angry, flattered.”
He looked at her.
“But it happened because for one night your loyalty became negotiable.”
Silence.
“And afterward?”
Arielle continued.
“You tried to manage consequences instead of telling the truth.”
“Yes.”
“So when Cambria fell at my feet, you were already emotionally invested in protecting the story you had created.”
Dorian frowned.
“What story?”
“That she was the mistake.”
Arielle’s voice remained steady.
“If I had been the aggressor, then maybe you weren't the worst person in the room anymore.”
Dorian looked like she had struck him.
Good.
He needed to understand.
Then Arielle asked:
“What cufflinks were you wearing in Atlanta?”
Dorian blinked.
“What?”
“The silver hawk cufflinks I gave you on our anniversary?”
“Yes.”
Arielle took out her phone.
She had screenshots Marcus pulled from Cambria’s social media.
A photograph posted two months before Atlanta.
Cambria at a charity cocktail party.
Caption:
Still obsessed with the little silver hawks.
Dorian stared.
“Maybe she saw them before.”
“Where?”
He didn't know.
Arielle continued.
“She knew details about our marriage before you slept with her.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying you weren't seduced by a random woman.”
May you like
She stood.
“You were studied.”
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