“Tatum, I think you should reconsider. If things explode, it won’t end well. What if Adeline Buckley truly turns her face this time…”
Tatum Bernard let out a disdainful chuckle.
“Turn her face? Last time at the NBA game, when the couple cam caught us, I shoved her away and refused to kiss her in front of everyone. Didn’t she stay quiet and endure it?”
He sighed, as if weighed down by false troubles. “I can’t ignore Zara’s feelings. She’s sensitive, insecure. I have to coax her well to feel at ease marrying. I owe her this.”
“If only we were in ancient times. I’d marry Zara and still not wrong Adeline.”
Conrad seemed choked by his twisted reasoning, and after a long silence, he asked helplessly, “Since you can’t let go of Zara Clements, why not break up with Adeline and marry Zara instead? Wouldn’t that be fairer to both of them?”
Tatum clicked his tongue, his voice dripping with self-righteousness.
“That won’t do! No one loves me more than Adeline. She’s hopelessly devoted to me, I know that better than anyone. If I lose her, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
He glanced at the baffled Conrad.