I said, my voice calm,

htly, a flicker of su

relieved,

"Do tell. Someone fro

e chosen would be a consola

Ramirez," I

froze. Chad looked

finally managed, her v

repeated. "A U.S

d, a delicate,

quaint, Ethan. Tryi

g, unpleasant sound, and lo

us keep you fro

isdain and something else I couldn't quit

ver her shoulder, "Good luck wi

Chad and whispered som

go, a cold knot

ak, and Brittany was its

would not let h

of a desire for social stand

world of glitter and ambiti

rez spread through New York high society like

abled war hero!" the g

ir makes shoc

y was b

any' s "old money" clan, wer

me elaborate play, that I wa

mansion, asking for comments

o private, found themselve

t I was trying to make Britta

new" I had been obsess

naive fool blinded by her

one who remembered d

an Ainsworth conne

queenmaker, her inf

ccess, power, and an unshakeable

the Vanderbilts were no exception, despite th

eld a different view

ill hers for the taki

as, in her eyes, a desp

Ainsworth Foundation office where I som

other with a

think you're doing?" she demanded, sl

ious, her f

iage to some crippled s

chair, keeping my

rittany. And Captain

ing to try and ge

e me want you? You think

office, her an

an. I will never marry you. I am with

e old pain, the memory

verlaid with the knowledg

y me, Brittany," I said qu

et to you.' My wedding to

rd truth of my past life,

r, keeping me from being

I would not

tarily speechless, perh

. "You're lying. This

a game,

is for me, then stop it! You're making a fool of yourself

stated, my voice firm. "Captain

tered. "What other reason could there be for her to marry

s something you

I see is a desperate man

voice dropping to a c

e happy if this blows up in your

ow, recovering from a minor health scare she tried to ke

id, though I knew her support was cond

frustration

ere stubborn,

take for you

Brittany. That's why

hands up in

But don't come crying to

d a parting shot,

ment soon, a real engagement. You'll see

a public spectacle, designed to over

she

nced their engagement with a lavish party,

diant and "in love

efully chosen to coincide with mine, though they d

ialite, choosing her true love, while Ethan Cole, th

ingstock, the jilted man

rwhelmingly that I was still

alm, unaffected by the

y confirmed wha

ilt meant nothin

were like distant echoes from a lif

nsworth insisted I attend

, her voice firm despite her recent fatig

e public ridicule, about how it

cing myself for

aused an imm

e shadows as I moved thr

s thick wi

ttany and Chad, their opulent engagement, their t

joke of th

us as Brittany's fiancé, approac

, clapping me on the shou

thrilled. Our wedding is going to be the event of the season. We're t

loating, enjoying my

d us watched, e

e, my express

ons, Chad," I

e slightly, enough for

aya Ramirez is also in five days.

nlookers. Chad' s smugness faltered. Br

d me, that I would b

were

ent of quiet, I stepped out onto

ights twin

ne shoved me ha

ed over the low railing into the dark

liar terror of drowning,

's betrayal, the dark

happeni