ra'

pon rows of golden chairs, banners with the university's emblem, eve

aster of Business

the same, including the claps I remember hearing during what was only going to happen

ceremony, my shaking hands stop trembling but

lver-black hair neat, his suit spotless. He addresses the

h to guard what my brother had built. Today,

ents would be proud of the woman

an," I say, holding my

e is applause from the board. Champagne is poured. I smile in all the right

everything

ooks at me. "Why don't I take you to the

r to go alone. I need some t

stant, and I feel my heart racing, fearing th

. "Enjoy yourself. I

r and shut the door before h

e out my phone and dial a number I haven't dia

a short, terse voice a

" I say. "Veyra

e? The niece of

's ri

at we had any mat

ave a business proposal for you that

l, t

you to come to the marriag

p. "Marriage court," he says. "That's where you're going

es

don't see the point

"I would ask you t

I don't know whether this is some sort of sick joke or not,

ke crazy talk. I know that we have never exchanged any words until

e up my entire afternoon, go to your wedding ceremony, and marry you in

es

atever game you're trying to play, f

he can hang up. "Just listen. Rh

can

trying to get Alden Cross on board as an investor for well

erent. It no longer carr

" he asks slowly, "since i

at I am offering you a meeting with him. A real one. He owes my family a favor that he

u at your word about getting m

den Cross within the week. Should I be lying, then you have nothing to lose since you

ssian Veyrek's niece marrying his biggest

. "Which is exactly

between anger and intrigue. "This either is the most insane th

mean you'll

being nothing more than a colossal waste of my

," I reply.

angs

feel it in my throat. Cassian is waiting there by Evren, both of them immaculately dr

n's vehicle arr

hydian exits his vehicle. The conf

ver to me immediately. "Why does

m to come,"

g several meters away and looking our way with an unfathomable expression on his f

y, "do not make a sce

here-our staff and family members-and I know that he's supp

urse,"

g worried. "Veyra? What'

say, knowing that Rhydian's eyes are on m

dure I've been through many times before, when my life and

s if expecting me

don't

he asks

ead towards Rhydian, whose na

are you up to

whisper back.

"Miss Solenne, have things chan

ems to be spiraling out of control-Evren's stunned silence, Cassian

only a second before slid

e pen int

n my

another word, takes the pen out of my

onounce you