ndra'

watching the custom gown burn besid

guishers. The dressing room descended into absolute chaos. I used the dist

to text Becky. I already had a thousand worried mess

ved around marrying Sinclair. We'd known each other since high school, got engaged freshman year of college...

doesn't deserve it,"

open. I didn'

ke nails on a chalkboard. He threw the charred remains of the

d to loo

That way, you won't have to force your

d over to the bed and tried to grab my han

ou doing this?" he

ssing my arms

day, the wedding is canceled, and you and I are

ther's roar echoed

fists, his eyes flas

s one day," he spat. He stormed out, slamming

e nearly collided

you? Have you lost your min

? She's the one who was screwing Sinclair," I rep

room like a hurricane,

never do someth

it either if I hadn't s

you want. I'm do

ther down. Neith

o you know, if you break this engagement,

shattered

ad

ments tied up with the Von Duvalls.

y over his own daugh

is family doesn't want

throwing my things into a suitc

bye,

ne last second. Swallowing the

ou going?!" my mother y

her frantic pleas, and climbed into a waiting taxi

the enti

***

or of Rebecca's place, sniffling, fighting not to cry. She

dropped to the bridesmaid dress I wa

bed. She pulled me

oing to be okay,

pletely b

te that son of a bitch,"

life went to shit. I still hadn't told her the whole truth about what happened;

ided to sift through my neglected emails. I was curled up under a blanket with the TV mu

cord. I opened it and ne

reamed so loud I nearl

? And why did Rebecca's friend hav

go back to normal... destiny went

***

otel, my expression practical

was legally bound to a fucking stranger made m

arrived. He replied almost instantly, "

man in an impecca

Duvall?"

row

e me,

Cassandra. Mr. Alari

We stepped into the elevator. The whole way up, the g

and... was that classical

I was instantly blinded by the lights, stumbling back a step as my eyes adjusted to th

n into this circle? Was he in

crystal chandelier when a voice I a

ed out of her cave. My

ncess, of course. Next to her, I lo

ough gritted teeth, my fing

n he ap

Sinclair asked, wearing the exact same

d, stepping closer as if I gave

en touch me, an ar

an. Especially when she's my wife,

was. I immediately recogni

. Had he always been th

wrapping a strong arm around my waist and pulling me flush aga

roze in hi

the room and raised his glass. The

very special," he announced, looking down at me with a smile that made my knees weak.

single eye in the room was locked on m

rward, grabbing my

e sputtered. "You can't marry my f

cl

CL

mpletely