ion as heads turned and conversations died. Isabella

t was broken. And maybe...just maybe...she wa

frozen in stu

ke a statue, unmov

y left his when she whisp

culating and Curious about who this

ayed was fading fast, replaced by adrenaline and

head slightly, studyi

aid, voice low and s

was "I'm done for, how could I have...ohh God, Please! Plea

waist. Her smug smile faltered. The crowd murmured, s

his voice slicing through

ropose to a woman. And you didn't

flashing in his eyes. "Bro, I... I

alled me 'bro'? That's funny. I

y pale. The crowd stared a

d a close relationship with the Moritz.

jandro had been the keynote speaker. And the second time, briefly, at Alejandro's moth

ss the room, cold and comma

reats. Just a simp

ttered like le

stepped forward, her voice sharp. "E

and pinched her arm, trying to stop her from sa

ght Alejandro was overstepping. She hadn't fully seen

epeated, louder this time. "How da

couldn't decide if Isabella was ju

"Stop it! It

osed. She looked around, realizing the crowd was g

watching the chaos unfold. For once, she wasn't the on

Harry was shocked by her outburst but couldn't accept being humiliated by a woman so he shou

o had ha

house," he barked, stepp

ed...and her

oritz was devastatingly handsome, his presence overwhelming. His tailored

ustered. Her anger melted into someth

cted Isabella to flirt with another

darkened. Her reaction

ers, and two of his

em out,"

re dragged toward the

orward, intending to f

ndro rais

said, pointing

ett f

a quiet escape. But now

but watch her ex and Isa

ed. She hadn't expected this.

ied and silen

, poured himself a drink, t

ing slowly. "Let's t

's breat

ed on Scarlett again.

reath, she said, "Because I wanted to sh

cating. The only sound now was the faint ti

breath shallow. Alejandro Moritz leaned against the bar, h

the silen

reason? To kiss me in front of strange

ips parted,

thinking.

nking. You acted. Did you really believe I'd choose you to b

eart thudded. Anger flared in

"I wasn't trying to

huckled, lo

liar. But bold. T

forward, her vo

..I just wanted to get back at Harr

ircled arou

trying to humiliate your ex or me? Make a s

ly. She hadn't expected anything beyond rejection or mockery. But now, standing in his

e's powerful and dange

wer

r out of her thought

uld always find better. And what bette

's gaze s

our choice

studied her like a predator sizing up its

low. "Then tell me, what's

expected him to entertain the idea, let alone ask what he'd gain

ence st

"I guess you have

rom her tousled hair to the blush blooming on her cheeks, down

average. I'm sure you must be de

er stomach twisted and her chest burned. She was angr

when she asked him to marry her, he knew something was wrong. But it was also... perfect

ds brushing her hair slightly,

.nobody. And definitely not

d up. Her voice now sh

re impulsive, yes. But I don't want to marry a man like you either. Y

the first time, he look

uth to reply, bu

. I'll take m

's 1 a.m. You can stay for the

ring again, when he added, "If anything

didn't refuse. It would be foolish to leave at this ungodly hour

her go, his expr