ste'

ent... Like perfect

I know this is going to blow

ng a mansion in Noah's eyes, even in the faces of the guests, and of

er and more amused until it echoes through the hall because eve

ted whisperin

nd his grip on the ring tig

k, removing my ha

e a bomb had been re

ny Spongebob facemask of disbelief. I

you say?"

er me. "I say no, Noah." My voice sounds cl

in the crowd

been rej

s outra

s happ

mself, rising to his fee

e nervous. It's a big moment.

ted his silly speech, my voice sounding with a

murmuring and li

"Celeste," he calls in a low, warning tone, a vo

. "Who says I'm

has turned pale. I know she doesn't expect th

o everyone for the misunderstanding. But I will not be accepting t

ugh to hurt me but enough to remin

e whispers harshly. "Thinks ab

ile. "Oh, I have. I've thought tho

er, he thinks I'm still that

ightly. "Celeste, we'll

, I take the box from his fingers. Then, to the abso

oor with a heavy landing, r

looking at me wi

anger and humiliation at my final a

ly. "Ending

u'll regret this," he says, his vo

e is soft enough for only him

his eyes loo

ending the stage as the

d. Her face darkens with barely concealed rage.

because Dad stands beside her. "I'm

r grip. This is just the beginni

My purse makes a soft click sound while I try to open it. I brin

he receiv

ther end. "The information you requested

"Good, I'll handle it fro

on and slide the p

nd catwalk out of

's, Noah's, Sophia's... each of them cho

m instead, and this is just the beginning. I sa

t the curb. He opens the door without a word, his expression b

in my purse. The message has arrived; I guess everything is

ecured. The Keycard is in the glove box... Be

t... I

nning of the file with sharp eyes. Damien

ing to take down the Harringtons, the Lancasters, and

will co

t clustered with betrayals. I exhal

Mason. "Take me

ghly recommended by their agency, and I trust him with my life since he doesn't know who I

ity, discreet enough for privacy and luxurious enough for comfort. The kind of p

e moment I step out, the cold air bites into my

he glovebox and made my way t

Damien's file continued to roll through m

lite friend, just whispers of his name in powerful circles. People say he i

o-ceiling windows, cool modern furnishings, and a subtle scent of lavender filling

urse on the table, and

gins to fade, and

. The Lancaster name, the fake affection, the hollow love. But now,

gs to my chest. For a moment, the si

eminding me of what I have lost

No." The way his eyes widened, the c

ia's face was pa

ut of their hands, and no

heart isn't made

r the version of myself who h

rl is d

er go t