Chapter 15

• Carmen was consumed by a feeling of intense anger, the likes of which she had never encountered before. It was true that she had been through painful experiences in the past, times when even those closest to her had inflicted deep wounds on her heart. Hell, her own mother had once abandoned her in pursuit of a better career, leaving Carmen feeling alone and abandoned.
• But what Simon had done to her was far worse than any physical blow. He had always acted as if he didn’t know her, as if she were a stranger to him. But how could that be possible when he had known Jenna well enough to help her escape from the wedding? The betrayal cut deep, leaving Carmen with a seething rage that consumed her every thought. The injustice of it all left her feeling helpless and vulnerable as if the ground beneath her feet had suddenly given way.
• Had he been lying to her the whole time? Was anything he said or did, or the way he made her feel, even remotely true? Or had he played her like a well-planned chess piece? Anything was possible in the world of wealth, wasn’t it? This was why her father had always been worried about her. He didn’t want his tiny baby to become entangled in a web of lies and conspiracies. He had urged her to be cautious and not let anyone take advantage of her gullible heart.