he Plaza Hotel ballroom cast a blind

by a towering arch of imported white roses. She wore the ill-

whispers. Women behind lace fans pointed at Areli's blank, slack-jawed

own, completely violating wedding etiquette. She held a flute

-the patriarch of the Branch family-sat in a high-backed chair. His gnarled hands g

ck of the ballroom were shoved open. Th

t swung to t

rpet. He wore a sharp black tuxedo,

h, waiting for Finn Bran

o walke

d their necks. Their eyes widened in collect

kicking its hind legs, was

Areli. The silence in the room w

inside pocket. He tapped it twic

. Finn Branch has fallen suddenly ill. He sends his deepest regrets. However, he has sent th

lroom e

at the back of the room went feral. Camera flashes exploded like strobe light

er shoulders shaking violently as she t

hiding her satisfied smirk. The humiliatio

ne against the floor. The wood cracked. His chest

on Areli. They waited for the breakdown. They waited for t

till. The blinding ligh

d. If she threw a tantrum, she proved she was a volatile liability. If she

mantle the humili

es lit up. A massive, radiant, completel

ok a large, clumsy step forward. She reached out

altering. He hadn't pla

e fur. She rubbed her cheek against its ears. She lift

priest's microphone stand, a

ed, echoing with pure, unadulterated joy. "My husband is

a massive, wet, echoing kiss right

n the ballroom

es of the socialites. The reporte

t understand they are being mocked. To laugh at a girl who was genuinely thrilled to marry a pet

ted from malicious glee to agon

red. His devastating punchline had landed on a pillo

ng. His grip on his cane loosened. He stared down

iot, yes. But her absolute purity had just absorbed a PR disaster that would have destroyed a norma

rom his chair. He stepped to

began to clap. Slow, l

ugh the dead silen

lapping, and panicked. Within seconds, the enti

inst her chest. She kept the bright, foolish smile plastered on her

tar. Now, she had to su