the Winston estate ballroom felt heavy, thick with unspoken expectations. Chandeliers dri

me near the towering floral arrangements. His eyes, us

y, my

red his

bout time we solidified the alliance between

his gaze se

s are you leaning towards? Ethan, of course, has

y resolve a steel

a, I was thinking

tter of the party seemed to dim. Grandpa William's eyeb

disbelief lacing his tone. "Arthu

y head-over-heels for Ethan Hawke, the charismatic, if ruthless, heir to Ha

he dream wedding, the society pages filled wi

my father's illegitimate daughter, the girl

streaming down his handsom

mistake. A terrible, one-

d off to a "special school" in Europe. Ethan, convinced I was the puppet master behind her exile, ne

rategies were consistently leaked, anticipated. Confidential company files, vital to our survival, vanished. Grandpa's

hit by a truck that never stopped. The sa

had a sick se

ah Carter. I would rewrite my story.

ding court with a group of fawning socialites, was Ethan Hawke. He looked exactly as h

w something flicker in their depths-not just surprise, but a ch

old. This chan

a moment to process. As I moved through the c

mbered, he'd expect me to fall at his feet, just like before. He'd e

behind me, dripping

ll. Look

ing on his lips. His friends, a pack of s

"Hey, E, there's your little sh

er me, a flicker of d

oing skulking in the c

is side, smoothing his lapels, asking if he ne

crushing impact, the life seeping out

voice le

y, Ethan. I believe I'

rk vanishing. He sensed th

sing. "Don't tell me you're actually mad I'm a little late?

lowering his voice

andfather changes anything. Our mar

r problem? Apologize to Ethan. If you weren't constantly throw

ghed. The sh

exits are clearly marked. As for my marriage, that will be announced at Grandpa William's 75th b

er, but I hadn't spoken to him yet. I could