e cabin. Steven glanced at the rearview mirror, his brow furrowed. His boss, Harrison Marcus, was leani

you remember the schedule? We have the final wedding dress fitting at Dede Jam

hout looking up. "I have an important

ed the entire afternoon. There are no meetings, Harrison. What could

final. "She's been waiting for me since this morning.

he was a high school friend, a ghost from Harrison's past that the Marcus family-specifically Williams Marcus-wanted buried. The rumors of their continu

register. "I am paid by your family to ensure this transition is flawless. I

arrison asked as Steven

ee-lined curb on the outskirts of the university district. He put

randing me?" Harrison stood up, his

ly professional smile appearing on his face. "If you want to see Tania, you can find your own w

en, w

ere," Steven added, narrowing his eyes. "Unless you want the r

ving the heir to the Marcus fortune standing on a Havenport s

He walked in to find the shop floor empty, but the sound of heated voices drifted

n the middle of a ful

," Daniel asked, his voice e

d. "Caroline is the most moral person I

ed, hitting that high-pitched note she reached when she was ove

ental features sharp with curiosity. "Who could refuse that? If a man li

, her voice the only one that sounded grounded. "It

roline pleaded. "I have a mo

He was leaning against the doorfra

ed, pointing at Steven with

, you idiot," Lily wh

said, stepping into the room. "But Caroline, we have a

abbing her bag. "Ri

up. He looked at Steven with a deep-seated sus

ing conflict," St

too," Danie

ne warned. "This is

d, searching desperately for a reason to stay by her side. "I'll be your...

lready pushed past him and was heading fo

f pure apology. "He's stubborn. If we don't let

e where the air itself felt expensive. Dede James was a legend in Havenport-a man with an LV scarf pe

eyes lighting up as they landed on Daniel, w

his arms around a very confused Daniel. "You are

laughter. Daniel stood stiffly in the designer's embrace

igner. "This is Daniel, a friend of the family. Mr. Harris

d back into place. "Ah, the girl of the hour. Come, come. We have

and mirrors that seemed to stretch into infinity. Caroline was led away to the dressi

nutes, the curt

simple, a white A-line with a single ribbon at the back and minimal b

gardener's wedding, Miss Caroline. But for the Marcus gala

longer. When the curtains ope

but the bodice was structured, revealing a hint of the transformation Mia had hinted at during the makeup session. The skir

antically taking photos. "Grandma

t dress made the reality of the situation hit him like a physical weight. She wasn't just his friend or his bus

then stopped. "You look like

in the mirror. "It's

whispered. "I

ing. His face went pale. "Grandma is askin

ve to get here! I don't care if you're eating with the Queen! Gra

in, looking disheveled and out of breath. He was followed by a woman-grace

ened. "Why did yo

ng his tuxedo jacket. He had apparently ch

me a migraine,"

stepped onto the pedestal next to Caroline. He was a vision in

ng the hem of the dress and the lapel of the tuxedo. "Per

n had forced her into four-inch heels to "complete the silhouette." Her feet w

whispered through gritted

hissed back. "I ca

shoulder several times to keep her upright as the de

ard and turn. As she moved, one of her heels caught t

leaping from the sofa befo

ed off the pedestal. For a heartbeat, the room was silent. Daniel held

, stood frozen for a second too long. When he fi

n, but from a sudden, sharp sting of possessive jealousy. He looked a

ice low and challenging. "You can g

d to take Caroline from Daniel's arms. "I

he didn't want the contract to be the only thing holding them together. He looked at the high heels d

nt, his voice echoing in the plush room. "I don't care ho

teven, the keeper of the schedule; Daniel, the friend who had caught her; and Harrison