I

d at me like I'd just confessed to murder. Zyler's face was red. Nuala looked like

the quiet like a knife. "You proposed to my son in a

What could I even say? Yes, I did that.

mine under the tabl

. Too calm. "Liora proposed to me in the

r throat. "Everett, please tel

His gray eyes held mine. "The way we met was unconventi

e acting. This was all part of the deal. But

expect me to believe you fell in love with a woman you met five minutes a

out smaller than I wanted. "I was upset an

is one of the richest men in the city. You proposed to him in front of witnesses s

" Everett's voice ha

me. "This engagement is an embarrassment to our family. You will end

I gripped the e

was taller than his father. "I never agreed to

an Zyler's shouting. "She understands our world, Everett. She knows how to handle the

e. Not with ang

ne who could stand beside you as an equal. Someone from our

. She wasn't calling me trash. She was saying I w

must be overwhelming for you. Being thrust into our world so suddenly with no

t. So concerned. But

re," she said softly

pulled my hand away. "Excuse

heels clicked on the marble floor. I found the

nd let them fall. My mascara ran down my cheeks in black strea

I was a girl from a state university with student loans and a cheating ex b

ake whatever settlement Everett offered

r opened. I hadn

side. He closed th

come in," I said. My voi

ed against the do

I gestured at my

e just watched me w

te me, Everett. Your parents, Diella, probably everyone at

are what t

makeup. It was useless. "Maybe they're right. Mayb

in two steps. He took the tis

want to.

someone she thought was more suitable," he said. "Someone from

word like it

r someone who looked better on paper. That's what they want for me. A mar

my shoulders now

to marry someone because she went to the right schools

caught.

g tax brackets. But that's not lo

small scar above his left eyeb

get back,"

want to

re it was just us. Where I didn't have to pret

iting," I s

Wiping away a tear I didn't know

e kiss

wasn't like the kiss in front of Flynn. This was different. This was

pulled me closer and I let him. I forgot about the dinner. I forgot about Diella

both breathing hard. His f

k," I said again.

ut he did

her

I tried to fix my makeup again but gave u

?" he

t ready. But I fo

ne looked up when we entered. Zyler's face was sti

ving," Eve

will be consequences. I'll block the Ashford merger. I'll m

voice was final. "I'm not ending my

over your family?"

first time in my life, I'm choosing what I w

d. We walked t

, Everett," Zyle

't turn arou

d us into the hallway.

ed like

gainst Everett's shoulder. He didn't pull aw

ou," I w

r w

aking me f

n't talk about the boundaries we were crossing. We just sat there

d feel it in the way he held me. In t

ee months. No real fe

and my head on his shoulder, I knew we we

dn't car