The billionaire taboos bride

nna'

p landed befor

ng across my cheek. I slowly turned my face back and wiped

th anger, his fists shaking. "He is my brother! He calls your d

hest. I looked him straight in the eyes and lifted my chin. "Grandpa only adopted him bec

rogant

ng toward my face. I gritted my teeth and sque

never

ng crunch, followed by my

opened

d in fro

a perfectly fitted charcoal three piece suit, Ted looked completely calm. His dark eyes

rom my lips before I could stop m

trembling father as his fingers tightened around th

ked me, his voice cold and sharp. "You speak to me like

er choked out, sweat running d

" Ted said quietly before releasi

backward, clutchi

ross me. You know wh

g toward the desk. His confidence had completely disappeared. "Wa

out a lo

es moved over my flushed cheeks, the torn la

avy and uncomfortable, as if we were both stan

eyes on me. "Because if I have to speak to the old man, I might tell him things you'd

er went

nd all the color dr

side of my neck, his thumb brushing the blood from my lip.

man I was supposed to call family, yet

eyes briefly dropping to my lips before meet

t close comple

d my back against the wall outside the study and held my brea

eat at the table?" my father's voice rang out, shaking with anger

little finger than you've had in yo

, but every word

ke your seat on the board. I'll destroy every company, every accou

ard papers rustling as he moved away. "Father wo

of his lighter clicking broke the silence. "You sent men to put a bullet in my head in Milan

niece!" my

Ted replied. "You gave up your right to protect her the moment you raised your hand against her. From this

approached

eels from making too much noise. I slipped through the m

m of the steps, its engine running. The

front doors opened

ion completely unreadable, as if he had

e steps, I forgot about behaving prope

my arms around his neck, buryi

me filled my nose, and for a moment, t

fore his arms wrapped around my wa

" he murmured against my hair

ou," I whispered, grippin

and guided me inside bef

oor c

ser and drew me against his side. I rested my head on h

you?" he asked, his

t bothe

ry w

shing the sore skin where my father had slapped me. "You know what people will say

him. "I don't care about the city. I don't

lips, but there was some

ng with fire,

me burn,"

dn't a

ting there as my skirt shifted slightly. His thumb b

r, his lips bru

stand that, right? There's

ack," I whispered, pl

ad leading away from the family estate. Rain had

enly shifted toward

stopped

g the brake pedal, but

ed, rushing down the steep road towar

ce came through the intercom. "The

dn't f

continued speeding through

e floor!" Ted o

s been cut. The brake