's

====

inside. The grand ballroom was filled with laughter and clinking glasses, but it all felt so distant, like I was watching it f

ce. I needed

arely noticing the paintings and ornate décor that lin

he betrayal of my family too-the ones who had been silent when I needed them most. The ones who

he noise, away from the people who knew nothing of what I was going through. I leaned against the railing, staring out into the night. Th

king me jump. "Taking a break?" with that, I turned, startled, to find

t of nowhere, like he always knew exactly where I was. His presence was a

to hide the exhaustion in my

ugh, he didn't say anything for a moment, just stood beside

I said after a while, my vo

owing slightly as if he were seeing through the facade I had put up. "You're not

in. "I'm used to it," I said, my voice trembling

gaze on me, steady and unwavering. He seemed to understand more

" he said finally, his voice low.

sure who I was anymore, that I didn't know what to do with the mess that my

ity stretching out before us. And then, unexpectedly,

king," he said, his tone

y heart skipping a beat

dable. "I can help you get back at him," he said qui

sudden shift in the conver

nce to make things right. A way to show him that you're not some consolation priz

Ethan, of making him regret everything, was tempting.

ice calm and persuasive. "You've been wronged, Mia. And you deserve bet

I didn't know what to say. But then, as if on cue, Da

thout warnin

rry

rt stopping in

s voice low and deliberate. "And in return, I'll make sure Ethan

ouldn't speak. Marry him? Damian Montgomery, Ethan's

my voice barely audible. "Why

hat wasn't just about revenge, something that felt... real. "Because I don't like seeing

ocess what he had just proposed. A marriage of convenience? A

ice shaky. "This is crazy. I

t care about people's opinions but I feel It's a chance to take control. A chance to get bac

know what to think. But in that moment, I realized something. I didn't have to do

kn

I said finally, my voic

adable. "Take your time," he said

ng in my life had ever felt so uncertain-and yet, for t

roposal lead to