pte

sto

knew those fingers. Had felt them trace patterns on her skin, cup h

ed for a poli

ains around her ribs and was pulling. The ballroo

me from somewhere far awa

pale. She could feel the c

move. Reached out. Le

g shot u

too. His jaw tightened, something flashed

ce was steady. Controlled. Like they

issed her until she

night mean

whisper. The words felt

whole body was shaking now. Tiny tremors that

is arm sliding around her waist. "Trave

He was looking at Noah now. Not at her

hit her li

e heard herself ask. Her voice

g real lives." He shrugged. "Nothing fancy. N

they cut deep. Someone rich. Someone privile

ot worth

houlders and shake him until he admitted he remem

ame empty smile she'd bee

fascinating

on home. He handled them all with the

d into a tux. Every handshake a calculated strike. He kne

eath. The way his hands clenched w

this. A

too. That m

n. Couples moved onto the dan

we?" he

around while cameras flashed and people applauded. T

hem dance. His face was a mask but his eye

t had to

se coul

low and the crowd cheered. Mor

beautiful, you two. Just beautiful." She clasped her hands togeth

"You're right, Mothe

omach drop. "Perfe

ce carrying across the ballroom. The band stoppe

or just a moment," Noah continued

o, no

dy pulling out a velvet box. Already opening i

bows across the walls. The crowd gasped. Champagne corks pop

sed, three months ago in the privacy of his penthouse, he

statement. A declaration. A pie

clear. "You have made me the happiest man aliv

. Pure, flawless perfection. Stunning. Worth

also a

g her. Waiting. The cameras kept flashing. Someone

eaming down her face. Her father nodded approvingly.

room, stood Landon. His face

mask. His jaw twitched. His hands clenched at his sides.

d rem

s killing

s. The one Noah had given her during his first proposal. The

er. More expensiv

an even ti

oft but urgent. He was still

he silence stretched. Someone cou

side her. Wild and dangerous and desperate. Say

and hope shining in her eyes. Her father nodding.

usiness merger. The expectat

the room, Landon. Watching.

d walked away from her. The pettiness of it shocked her but it was there, real and ugly. And maybe, just maybe, if she said yes loud

the only way to pro

it was

uried it deep where all her

ted, her voice

d longer. People wer

ked out. The word felt

id, leaning closer.

r the cameras to catch. Strong enough fo

d. More champagne corks popped like

ed her hand. So heavy she could barely lift it.

r, Landon turned

n't lo

e congratulations. More pictures. More spee

her new diamond. Let people gush over its si

she felt h

he weight draggi

he morning. The last guests headed to t

s beautiful on you, dear. And now we're truly family." She squeezed Sienna's hands,

warning. Like chains b

ienna replied

," Eleanor continued. "June would be lovely. Or

yes, everything else would follow. The dress. The flowers.

," she said because it

estate. When they reached her h

ng her hands. "For saying yes. For mak

id, looking down at the mass

Subtle. Nothing like the scent of salt and sand she remembered from that night

dark house. Her parents had stayed at the party later,

d sat down at her vanity. The diamond

beneath her grandmother's pearls. The paper was soft

Don't let them make you

e note felt like it was burning he

d let them make her forge

m. The name tasted like regret. Like ever

herself for still caring about a man wh

lamplight. Beautifu

kle around

g with ev