Heartbreak Brings Mr. Right

Mercer’s gaze hardened as he gritted his teeth and set Nancy down.

Without a word, he gripped her wrist and marched her directly to the bathroom.

With a stoic expression, he thrust her beneath the shower head.

The shock of the frigid water hitting her head was akin to a sudden plunge into an icy river, a stark contrast to the warmth of intoxication.

Mercer turned the knob to its maximum flow, making it impossible for her to open her eyes against the relentless downpour.

The cold water quickly snapped her out of her drunken stupor, sharpening her senses.

Nancy gasped, arching her back as she fumbled with a trembling hand to find the knob and stop the icy flow.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Once she turned off the water, she wiped her face and saw Mercer’s disapproving expression.

Nancy’s face blazed with anger, her cheeks flushed crimson.

“Mercer, seriously? Are you trying to turn me into an icicle? It’s fine if you don’t like me, but freezing me out like this?”

With a sneer, Mercer’s voice dripped with coldness.

Each word he uttered felt like a stab to Nancy’s heart.

“Miss Schultz, you’re quite the actress, playing innocent,” Mercer sneered.

“Remember how you used to cringe away from me? The moment I touched you, you even puked on me.

So why the sudden change? Why no disgust for men today? There were plenty of men hassling you, pushing you to drink and getting touchy.

I thought you were enjoying the attention.

Is that it? You’re itching to hop into their beds?”

Trembling by humiliation, Nancy hit Mercer across the cheek.

“What’s wrong with you?” she snapped, her voice edged with frustration.

“I was talking business.

Who gave you the right to make such accusations?”

Stunned by the slap, Mercer staggered backward, his hand flying to his reddening cheek.

Never before had he been on the receiving end of such defiance.

Today, Nancy set a record that left him reeling.

As Mercer snapped back to reality, a bitter laugh escaped his lips.

His fingers tentatively grazed the stinging spot on his cheek, his face darkening with the pain.

He couldn’t believe the force behind Nancy’s slap.

Why didn’t she just fight off those men instead?

“Business, huh? What kind of business requires getting cozy with a man? Do you even realize those jerks were about to take advantage of you? If I hadn’t shown up, who knows what could have happened when you passed out drunk?”

With each word, Mercer’s frustration bubbled to the surface.

How could Nancy be so clueless about her own safety? Who would go out alone to a club without a care in the world?

“Miss Schultz, ever heard of being safe? You probably would have thanked those men after they had had their way with you.

”

Nancy stood there, momentarily speechless.

The events of the night came rushing back, sending shivers down her spine.

The fear of being coerced into drinking again made her tremble involuntarily.

But she refused to back down, especially not in front of Mercer.

Chin held high, she retorted defiantly, “This is my business, not yours.

Who are you to tell me what to do? Even if they had their way with me, it’s still none of your concern.

”

With a loud thud, Mercer punched the wall just inches from Nancy’s ear.

Pressed firmly against the wall, she gasped in shock, her heart racing.

When she finally met his intense gaze, a twinge of guilt washed over her inexplicably.

She wanted to look away, but his grip on her chin was unyielding, forcing her to meet his eyes.

Mercer’s fingers tightened around her delicate chin as he cornered her against the wall, his frustration mounting at her self-deprecating remarks.

“Who am I to you?” Mercer’s voice was low and threatening, dredging up Nancy’s shameful past.

“Your first time was with me, and that’s a bond that lasts a lifetime.

”