mari

re was no ambiguity. Clemont's face, twisted in pleasure. Kaylen's triumphant smile. Their vo

y Holdings trust is

g. She'll be out on the s

al silence was shattered by a cacophony of whispers, exclamations, and the r

s of the other bridesmaids, feigning a swoon. Her father, Braylon, stood frozen, his face a m

ne was l

age. He forgot the crowd, forgot the cameras.

. It connected with the side of his face with a satisfying thud. Roses exploded in a shower of white petal

back, clutching his face. The

as my

r around me. I gathered the heavy skirts of my dress and ran, not d

lentless, pouring rain. It was a baptism

mbrella, but she made no move to help me, her face twisting with a strange mix of pity and distance. She opened her mo

ain. I didn't have the time or energy for wh

blestones. The heel of one caught in a crack, and I heard a sharp sn

ot, the cold, rough stones biting into the soles of my feet.

me down. For the first time, a flicker of despair threatened to extinguish my right

ur. A car, long and black and silent, pulle

s a M

throat. Had Clemont's me

window slid down

ing into the dark, inte

his expression unreadable but radiating a danger

lding a large black umbrella. He walked around the car and o

orm. It was low, a deep rumble, but it carri

t i

to see Clemont and his guards hot on my heels. I had no money, no shoes, and

ad and scrambl

or of the car was a cocoon of warmth, silence, and the rich smell of leather. And him. That scent of c

t, shivering, water dripping from my hai

a thick, cashmere blanket from the seat beside him and dra

my teeth chattering. "T

lean, dry towel from the armrest, leaned across th

in the slightest. His large hands worked the towel against my scalp, his knuckles occasionall

s completely enveloped in his presence, in his scent. My breath caught in my chest, and for a moment, I forgot