Claimed By My Fiancé's Ruthless Uncle

lection staring back-a woman composed of hairspray, silk, and desperate patience. She opened the "Find My Friends" app. The l

enth time, she adjusted the white rose in the center of the table. Her finger brushed against a p

The crystal glasses gleamed under the dim chandelier light, reflecting the cold, empty perfection of the penthouse dining room. Beyond the floor-to-c

ck in the hallway c

s two ho

of her dress, her palms

self. Just smile. I

or lock turning was like

he rug. She walked toward the foyer, her heels clicking on the

ir and the faint, sweet scent of bourbon. He didn't look at her. He

oice soft, practiced. She reache

ung the cashmere coat on the rack himself, the fabric rustling ag

bounced from the coat rack to the floor, th

ping back to give him space. "I t

er, loosening his tie. He headed straight

ulders. He sat down at the head of the table, not noticing the f

ar to pour the wine. The dark red liquid

picking up his napkin and

his right, close enough to touch him, but she kep

blinked, a slow, painful movement, as if his brain was grinding gears t

lass and took a large swallow, treating the vintage

d for

ise. It was just a heavy, familiar weight. She forced the smil

aid quietly. "It fee

e steak she had prepared, the knife

sed around the velvet box. The edges were sharp against her skin. This was it. The t

nd pushed it gently toward him. It was

it were a live grenade. His throat worked as he sw

s?" His voic

, breezy. "With the merger coming up between our fam

te, sending a spray of red sauce onto the pristin

ed backward, teetering on two legs bef

hysically, but her in

e alcohol and anger mixing under his skin. "Pressure, pressure, p

voice trembling slightly. "It's just a con

messing it up. "I can't deal with a wedding right now. The market is volatile, th

sa saw it. The disgust. It wasn't just stress. He lo

peated, the word

from the table. He didn't even look at

haven't e

" He turned and marc

ak. She followed him to the foyer.

on, just bunching it in his fist. He opened

" he said. He d

ed through the penthouse, vibrating i

nce of the apartment rushed back in, suffocating her. She walked back to the din

box. It was still closed.

ord right now. She felt a cold, clinical clarity wash over her. It wasn't just fe