the car even came to a complete stop. Chloe's stepmother,

nside.

began. Her perfectly manicured finger pointed at the faint, angr

the marble foyer. "Running off to whore around the night before your weddin

The pain inside her was a vast, empty cavern.

now, Mother," she cooed, draping an arm around Chloe's stiff shoulders. "Don't be too hard on her. She's ha

iece of property being delivered. She clenched her fists at her sides, her nails di

her face, twisting her hair, forcing her into a cloud of white lace and silk that felt like a shroud. I

burn Industries, Damien was signing off on a multi-billion dollar ac

ce, his face grim. "Sir, a call from

ther, whose accident years ago had left him frail an

Damien asked,

den turn for the worse this morning. They

ation, a last-ditch effort to ensure Damien went through with this farc

lth was the one variable he couldn't fully control. He stood, gra

ted gently. "The wed

ought of that fifty-dollar woman standing alone at the altar, waiting for a groom who would nev

ce of stone and glass that looked more like a fortress than a home.

Chloe walked down the aisle alone, her steps echoing in the cavernous silence. She reached the altar and

of pity and scorn were thrown her way. From a front pew, she could see Jenna and Brenda, their faces alig

ed with the shame. Maybe the m

a high-tech wheelchair, his head bowed. The image clicked into place, confirming every rumor she

apologies," he announced to the room, his voice calm and formal. "Mr. Blackburn is not f

g withou

were signed. And just like that, with the stroke of a pen, she became Mrs.

sode. He'd been played. The knowledge only deepened his disgust for the entire situation. He left without a word and drove