WHEN HIS HEART GOES WRONG

: E

aisle in lace and lies. The limousine waited outsi

and bolted through the bac

s of Sierra, heels in my hand, heart dragg

ut I didn't

zipped up my wedding dress thi

. My marriage would remove the only threat

in the eye and said, "I know you don

is influence, promote him, and boost his market value. My fathe

ant, Leonard Hays, texted me minutes ago saying: "I won't be

roperty. As if

e'll find us, Erica. And he'll h

; he has postponed our so-called wedding like it was a mere date. Nathan r

rd; most people do, but did he re

. I tried to understand, tried to accept that he was no match for Leonard.

loved. My best friend. My

w, so

t knew I had to get out. Out of the to

ty, standing outside a noisy park, barefoot

when I

heartbreak, the exhaustion - th

street, laughing with her f

me height. Sa

ked again. And

losing my mi

***

nightclub, pretending I belonged in a world that didn't

"Something that'll move me like them." I gestured

fit, he slid a short glass towa

glass back with a scrunche

lease,"

was stronger. I

ing soon," he s

dancing feet yet. Maybe

, a man n

annoyingly but friendly. "What the he

his face. Had he seen me before? Hell

we

s in. "I told you, no t

aid, confused and

haking his head. "Ch

atient. "Do we k

as exhausting. "Stay far away from me tonight, Eric. I do

crowd before I cou

k cr

finger. The bartender, without asking, po

h it in one go. The burn wa

, watching bodies sway and spin,

lid into the s

s..." he said

thankfully, not

on," he added, inserting hi

But something about his tone - too

, flashing a cheesy grin. His tone made

" I asked, need

ys down for scr

ardon?" I nar

ago," he said, grabbing my *ss and lea

ped hi

led back

stunned to say anything else. A

r. The music throbbed in my chest, syncing with my fury. I le

ights spun wildly. I followed, dizzy and loose, like my head

crashed into

ing as I turned to face t

at me...

aga

" I g

rd me. "Did you follow me again?" he snapped. The

t wide. Wide

violently, like trying to wipe away the alc

rvously and s

after him, lifting

n spun. I stumbled, landi

mmed, sinki

d let the alcohol t