They Planned My Fall, I Built My Throne

Austin today! What gives you the righ

lammed into Rach

r body lurched forward, and in the next instan

he edge of the deck. Dangling above the dark ocean, she loo

er. Abby had despised her for as

n, but the diamond-studded wedding gown weighed her down like a chai

hen she lifted her heel and viciously ground it down onto Rachael's fingers. "Aust

nd. Her grip slipped, and her body dropp

violently. A cloud of blood spread through the wa

up from sleep wit

her nightmare came into focus right i

nstincts took over. She swung her hand and sla

Her expression twisted with disbelief and fury. "I ca

lly have to behave so impulsively?" Her tone carried obvious dissatisfaction. "The Brooks family cares a

r bridal makeup was only half done, but even layers of fou

day was her wedding day and she w

must have accidentally fallen asleep in the makeup chair. That horrifyin

quietly after a long pause

h. "A nightmare? Or are you using that

signer called earlier," she said impatiently. "Some diamonds from the origina

head. The instant she saw the g

ct same dress

he had never la

stylists impatiently. "Why are you just stan

tepped forward, preparing to

ttering dress. Her fingers trembled the

r down, trapping her and keeping her from pulling herself back

had to be some kind of warning. It might n

she shoved the mannequin aside. "Who allowed you to

What else are you supposed to wear? The damaged dress?

, I have no idea what the Brooks family sa

essing room door. A deep, cool voice sounde

was tall enough that he had to low

figure. His features were strikingly attractive, but the cold detachme

ustin, t

get married. There was no happiness on h

s turning watery. "Austin, Rachael slapped me for absolutely no reason earlier, and now

l on the gown lyi

is tone firm and unquestionable. "You don't have anot

in front of Austin?" Abby said, openly delighted as a malicious glimmer flashed through

o persuade Rachael. If anything happened to th

y made Rachael more convinced that th

o begin," Austin said ic

ed to leave withou

his was the kind of husband an arranged marr

after him with panic written all over her

speaking, she suddenly

ccidentally stepped on the heavy layers of t

row heel of her shoe sliced

finger. "You did that on purpose! Do you even realize how expensive th

d, "No, I didn't do it intentionally. I just thought you were ang

What else was she supposed to do? St

etter build than she had expected. She bet h

word. He simply cau

acting is awful. I don't care what little scheme you're trying to pull today, b

body wen

ly did that on purpose! The wedding's about to begin. Don't tell me you suddenly don'

all off the wedding. That way, if something happened to her later, they could simply claim she ha

fix the original dress," he ordered coldly. "Th

-" Abby blurted

saying that, Austin turned and walked a

igure disappear, and a faint

ped her soon-to-be husband would

ony proceeded wit

earing a perfect, elegant smile, but inwardly,

een a warning or merely her imagin

she quietly excused herself under the pretense of fixing

her delicate high heel

ply, the salty sea breeze filling her l

Whose dog fe

e it

ing scene from

dog she had cared for over

through Rachael, but it

g the warning had come true and kno

, she sprinted toward t