an's

your h

ore we stepped out of the car an

e bullets. I froze for half a second before his hand brushed against mine. It wasn't a t

t...

le steps, the cameras, the expensive suits, it all belong

e carved from stone. I followed half a step behind

waited, red lights blinking like warning

ooth and cold, every syllable controlled. "I know there's been speculation about my m

er yelled. "Was this marriage to

riage to Adrian Vega was impulsive,

ord hit me

rd me. I felt the heat of a hundre

ly, "what do you say to accusations tha

hard. "I d

er shouted. "Are you in

g together. I opened my mouth again, but

y. His voice carried authority

't stop wha

't need to turn to know who it was.

te Mo

was pristine, her hair gleaming under the lights,

aid sweetly, though her eyes were knive

ened. "Celeste, this is

mbling just enough. "I loved Soren Knight. We were en

led throug

st tighten. "

"Really? Then maybe you

lifted it so everyone could see th

g, slurring, stumbling toward the altar. My voice rang out

d. Cameras flash

dn't b

Soren into this marriage for money. For fame. And

"Mr. Vega! Did you seduce him for his mone

e, his jaw tight, his hand

at it wasn't true. That none of it was p

hrough the room, silencing everythi

grabbing my wrist

outing, the chaos. I stumbled after him, blinking against th

ached the car, my

I. The car door slammed shut,

ly, voice low. "Don't b

ly. "You think a

s what she does. She mani

n! Video proof! Do you

es burning. "I don'

ragged through hell. My mom's crying herself sick. Eve

e was answ

, do you? You just care abo

s not

is," I said quietly. "Te

ed, but no so

ad. "You can'

st tight, my throat burning. The c

before he could open his door. I didn't

When the doors opened, the qui

ped halfway. My phone was buzzing. Doz

ext. From an

Adrian. Meet me if

was an

tion. It had to be Nathan Cross, the man who'd smir

I should've ignored it

en wouldn't

nt near downtown, windows covered,

ng, sitting at a table l

he said, his smile sharp.

you want?

e him. "I want to help you. You

dy know,

d softly.

across the table. I

n't just a scandal. It was his strategy. He used you to sabotage Celeste's deal, to provoke Victor,

"That's n

does anything without purpose? You were convenient. Disposa

deeper than I

Just like he destroys everything he touches. You could walk

he table, shaking my

ject Helix. Ask him why your name is listed i

ed out, his voice

playing with a man who

ty lights spilling through the windows. Soren was there-waiting,

s voice was calm, bu

eded

lie t

aw. "Why? You l

d dangerous. "Wha

"He told me abou

n was instant, a flicker of

ell me, Soren. Is that why you married

dn't

as louder than

ghtened. "Sa

e were inches apart, hi

understand," h