rice

surreal affair populated by guests whose congratulations were laced with fear and morbid c

small of my back. The heat of his palm burned through the delicate fabric of my gown, a constant, possessive reminder o

k suit whispered something in Brent's ear. Brent's exp

urmur meant only for me. It wasn't a suggestion. He gave my back a final, proprietary squeeze and then

noise of the party, through manicured gardens, and into the main residence. It

ted one wall, its covers a stark, undisturbed field of white. A fireplace stood cold and empty. The entire space was impeccably clean, mascu

ho had followed me in. They bowed their heads a

My shoulders slumped, and I walked on unsteady legs to the vast, bulletproof windows overlooking th

'Miss Cline' the moment the priest said 'man and wife.' Now she was t

s. A pale ghost in a wedding dress. I looked

, Elara," I said, my v

or Cecil, what would my life be? I'd be the family joke. The hand-me-down bride. Devin woul

I took a step toward her, my gaze intense.

s position, he will spend his entire life bowing to me. He will never be

But Mr. House... Brent... he's a dang

ing myself a glass of water. My hand trembled slightly. "The more powerful B

his hand on my jaw. I took a long drink of

l against the crystal, a soft, rhythmic click, click, click. "A man like that. A man whose power is abs

onfused. "I...

confident in his power that he doesn't care. Or... the rumors are

. A man far more complex and calculating than anyone gives him

me she finally understood the

ced the glass down with a decisive clin

dress," I commanded

tion and my audacious victory. I stepped out of it and left it in a heap

ection in the mirror. I scrubbed the makeup from my f

s gone. She died

s Mrs. House. A

shock of it chasing away the last ve

calm, my resolve absolute. I sat at the vanity, the empt

it, the silk of my robe a poor defense against the chill of the cavernous room. I must have dri

as b