in Jayden's gaze. His hand on her waist was firm, guiding her effortlessly across the ballroom floo

yden murmured, his

ne," sh

ost imperceptible

or him

thousand times before. She, on the other hand, was hyper-aware of every movement, terrif

about to let hi

chin. "Just don

slightly. "I wouldn

voice sent a shiv

ed, and it was just the two of them, lock

h

as always

a smooth, familiar vo

san

or, holding a champagne flute, watchin

but didn't stop. "Cassandra,

irely. "Your father's looking for you aga

t he didn't break his h

iquid in her glass. "And here I t

ut his voice remained cool. "You know what t

recovered. "Of course." Her gaze flickered to Celeste for the fir

she disappeared

led. "She's.

laugh. "That's o

efore asking, "

n at her. "You rea

te no

ndra and I dated.

blinke

at her reacti

er eyes. "Ab

waist tightened

, the music faded, signa

lowly, but the warmth

h me," he

esitated.

ed her through the ballroom, past groups of s

rom prying eyes. The cool night air wrapped around t

ling, exhaling. "I needed a b

rms, studying him. "I

's jaw

. "That was... te

Instead, he stared out over the cit

her isn't the kind of man

d. "He's y

morless laugh. "And

ed quiet

glanced at her, stu

doesn't see people-he sees assets. Investments. I

ted at the bitterness

ut there was no warmth in his sm

clenched at th

rful, controlled, ruthless when necessary. Bu

ing he was only valuable as

d the hard way that

eople in," she murmured bef

gaze sh

espond, the door to t

outside, his sharp gray

are," he sa

is expression hardenin

t it didn't reach

ed. "We have noth

rk didn't fade.

Jayden. "Unless you'd prefer to co

lenched h

. "Whatever you ha

disappointment. "Very we

ion darkened. "A

ed. "That's

d between them

u don't need me, but you will. And when that time comes..." He

e stif

den stepped forward, his voice da

a long moment before n

walked back inside,

led. "Well,

't respond

hrough his hair, tension

e said after

d her hea

to hers. "Stay awa

down her s

cause if he thinks you mat

e swal

nted to tell him that s

in his eyes

just war

leading

at terrified her more than anything else. Because it meant that somehow, without even