's

===

d-embossed letters glimmering in the soft light of my living room. James Candace's 80th Birthday Cel

ace. My gr

cently, the world I thought I understood had fallen apart. Ethan-my ex-fiancé-had shattered everything, and now even my adoptive parents had turned the

, on one hand, I couldn't let James down and on the other, I wasn't sure I could sta

girl, sitting on James' lap, his arms wrapped around me with a smile on

fall. Not now, not when I was trying so hard to keep it together so, l

Ethan. But I couldn't let James down. Not after everything he'd done

eel like a stranger in my own body. The black dress I wore fit like a second skin-sleek, elegant, and far too sophisticated for the wom

impress anyone tonight and

e mirror then stepped out the door, each click of my heels ag

s I pulled into the long driveway, its massive

anicured lawn. With the air heavied with expectation, with luxury, and the moment I s

long here.

ng with every step I took. The sounds of laughter and music spilled

, trying to calm myself

m the ceiling and guests in their finest attire, murmuring amongst themselves in low tones. The scent of expensive

I saw my adoptive parents. They were laughing and chatting with some of their friends and

ha

fr

stomach churn. As the man who had been my fiancé, my everything, was now standing there with her, as if I had n

locked on them, and my heart pounded in my chest. It felt like a cruel jok

rned away, desperate to get some distance. My eyes skimmed t

mi

ss the room, I could feel the pull of his presence. Damian Montgomery. Ethan's uncle. I hadn

ge. His eyes locked with mine across the room, and my heart skipped a beat. It was as though no time had passed at all. Bu

nd deliberate, as if he knew exactly what kind of effect he was having on m

ow, smooth, and carried a hint of somethi

though it felt like a mask. "

tugging at the corner of his l

for a moment and neither of us said anything. I couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or genuine

for a moment, his tone softened, as

t I'd been broken, betrayed, but I couldn't bring myself to

s eyes became unreadable, and then he nodd

't know. But before I could respond, my

dening just slightly. "Still can't get over him, can you

answer. I

into a small, knowing smile. "There ar

eyebrows furrowing in con

sure whether he was teasing or serious. "I'll tell you later,"

ing in the air around us, making everything feel charged, like the calm before a storm. I didn't know what was happenin

sure if I was

e was about to change. And it all