a's

in front of the mirror,

earlier to glam me up, an

was swept up, showing off the diamond earrings Dominic had included with the dress. And on my

in the doorway, looking de

N

" He held out his arm. "Let'

It was a huge, very fancy, crawling with Manhattan's elite, an

aw the red carpet, the pho

and I had to tak

asked, staring at me with

eing the need to deny. "A

member. We're not here to destroy them tonight. We're he

try to humil

me the Butcher." His voice was ice. "

hes were instant. The paparazzi rushed at us, restric

of them asked, straining to push he

he man w

t's the Butcher

ominic

ssessively on my waist. We walked the red carpet toge

hone toward us. "We didn't expect to see you here

fiancée," Domin

widened. "Fiancée?

orward. "Miss Hale! Is it true? Ar

myself with how steady my vo

owd er

, three days since your almo

how do you r

me kind of

row more questions at us

rents immediately, standing with the Hart family near the

elegantly dressed guests. The air smelled of lilies and expensive perfume, and the l

th the Hart family near the bar. Lily looked

seen us yet,"

urther into the room. "But first

its. I recognized one immediately: Edward Hart,

said smoothly. "Go

smile. "Dominic! I didn't know you'd be attending." Then he saw me, and

ing my hand while making sure the ring

wide. "You're eng

ng me about some concerning trends in the market. Hart

tened. "We're manag

"Because from what I've seen... public reports obviously, your Q3 projections don

"How do you kn

orate strategy," I said simply. "I

tened slightly on m

early uncomfortable, "w

miled. "It was lovely

leaving him st

that?" I

em you're not just a pretty face. You're so

uple who greeted as Dominic guid

d,

took mine gratefully, lettin

g well," he

I'm going t

drink. "Edward Hart is already second-guessing himself

know

anned the room. "For no

d when I felt someone

va

urn

looking at me like

mie

ed genuinely stunned.

nk y

talk? Pr

I could answer. "She's exa

nic, then back to me. "So it'

a

va, come on. This is

th my sister for months before our wedding. I

shed. "That'

fair? Damien, you replaced me at the altar with my pregna

tion was d

gave you five years, Damien. Five years of making you look good. Writing your r

..

ke really looked at him, and felt... nothi

va

interrupted, his voice carrying an ed

e walke

haking, but I f

quietly, his hand moving from m

enal

e, and suddenly I was back in his penthouse. His hands on my skin. His mout

llowe

warm breath grazing

was close to mine. The heat of his hand. The scent of his cologne. The

tte

not trusti

y like he knew exactly

va

e broke the mome

in, my father beside her. Both of them looked

ed to