of excess, a gaudy display of new m

ir was thick with the scent of too much

st to the glittering gowns and jewels around me. No one noticed me. I was just ano

I saw

decorated stage, stand

s custom tuxedo, his posture rigid,

ez. The pictures I' d found on

ll, resentful eyes that scanned the crowd

mond bracelet catching the light a

rrying. This was the reason

Texas-sized ego, was giving a speech about the union of two great

ilded cage. As his future father-in-law droned on, his eyes swept over th

emotion that lasted only a second. It was quic

ted moving. I pushed through the clusters of gossiping g

, my voice cutting thro

ed in my direction, her perfectly

ear as I got closer to the stage. "Don' t let them

same cold, distant look from the lawyer'

ll and grating. She looked me up and down with open contemp

lack suits started

s movements stiff. He walked right up to me, his eyes cold and hard. He was so clos

said, his voice a harsh

hing for his arm. "Eth

m away as if my

d, louder this time, for the

d with fury. "Get your hands off

Ethan' s. "I don' t believe yo

nothing,"

in, he did something I never t

oom. The sting on my cheek was nothing compared to

was never in love with you. I was with you because you were beautiful, poor, and easy to control. My w

ed strike, designed to drive me away

t, I understood completely

-