“I had no intention of letting you keep me a dirty secret." (Patreon)

Roth monologue, talking about the beginning of their relationship:

“I wanted you when I spotted you across a crowded room. I coveted you the moment you looked up at me, before you spoke your first word. Every weakness I uncovered, I used to bind you to me. Whatever your family wouldn’t give you, I did. I gave you my time and attention and encouraged your dreams of being a writer. Baldwin was so sure of himself, he didn’t even try to seduce you, so I did. I always intended for our affair to be discovered.”

Her eyes flashed open. She looked up the long length of him. He stared down at her, grim-faced, eyes two burning black holes.

“I had no intention of letting you keep me a dirty secret. I forced you to choose. When you tried to break it off, I thought I miscalculated, only to discover you were trying to protect me from your father. You thought I would give you up for the Langdon deal.” He shook his head. “Why would I give up the only person who ever stood up for me? Who supported me with no expectation of compensation, friendship, or reciprocation? Who gave herself to me, knowing she could only grant that privilege once, and I was her choice?”

**This is a raw draft of Bitter Confessions. Please do not share or distribute.