ella

olten fury through my veins. How dare he stand there?

f stolen moments, all while he'd been playing house with Giana. My nails bit into my

t familiar touch now settin

trembling with barely contained rage.

-the one I'd bought him last Christmas-maki

guess-this was all some elaborate rehearsal? Gi

t I need her family's money." His voice dropped to that intimate w

r

'd shared her bed for two years, then come home to mine. H

t. "There is no 'us.' There's just you-

ery tender moment we'd shared was now tainted, every

ained fury as I tore away the last shred of his pathetic justification. "Th

, choosing her safety over mine. "If this is your idea of love, t

"I... couldn't l

und sharp as broken glass. "Did you think because I have no f

red irreparably. Five years. Five years wasted on a man who saw me as nothing m

ous whisper. "Unless you want your precious engagement p

ssed, that familiar arrogance resurfacing. "You'd never hurt Giana.

tic laugh esc

e lips that had kissed Giana's fingers while slipping on her ring. "Remember our pla

his dorm room floor, sketching those dreams on napkins, his laughter min

" my voice cracked, "why br

y hands. "I don't love Giana, but her family's empire can fund everything

d before I rea

alm stung, but not half as much as my heart. "That I'd l

ubbing his cheek. "She'll reco

wasn't the boy I'd loved-just a stranger wearing his face. "I

me. "Belly, I

nce comforting-now churning my stomach. "You lo

gaze without flinching. "We're done. If you ever c

all, his fingers digging into my arms like manacles. "You don't get to walk away," he growled,

aped my cheek, seeking my mouth with a desperation that tur

n? Ho

d to her, his face had transformed into gentle concern. "Just checking on Isabella, love.

his duality left me breathless-monster to prince in the blink of an e

, oblivious to the fingerprints blooming

open wound. The thought of being trappe

re waiting to discuss the floral arrangements." His thumb stroked her shoulder

fled into the night, rejecting the arranged car w

to myself, hot tears soaking my dress. The pain was physical-like someone had reac

ng over a glass of amber liquid without comment. I downed it in one burning gulp, w

. Of fuck

crowd's collective "Aww" turned my stomach. I watched through the bottom of my glass as

ng the rim of my glass. "All poet

climbed onto the DJ's platform. "Enough with the romance crap!" My voice echoed thr

my waist. "Someone's feisty," a beer-breath voice leered. The stenc

at rock bottom, I refused to be

d, sweet as poison, "an

, sweetheart," he slurred, his whiskey-sour breath washing over me as

movements lacked force. His face twisted in anger as he raised a me

he voice was deep, cal

for the first time that night, my breath

r lights. His tailored black shirt stretched taut over a warrior's physique, every muscle defined as if chiseled b

yes focused, then widened in terror.

rd, delivered with q

those glacial blue eyes locking onto mine-eyes that held storms and

ck bell. Dangerous. Powerful. And currently studyi

h just a glance? And why did every insti