g toward heaven as if in judgment of the farce about to unfold within its hallowed walls. Whit

der the miraculous treatment, while his own life disintegrated. Three days of unans

ontgomery had stationed at every main door. The rehearsal dinner had been lavishly covered in s

top the biggest mistak

ple white slip dress, clearly there for a final fitting of her wedding gown, which hung nearby i

ngled whisper. "You can't be

omething was different; the vibrant spark that had always animated her face was ext

ssing the room and closing the door behind him.

es. "The guards will be checkin

d closer, close enough to catch the famili

s face. "It doesn't matter what I feel. The

. Better than anyone. Something isn't right. Is your father forc

trying to create some noble narrative where I'm being

throw away what we had? Why agre

When she spoke again, her voice had taken on the practiced, polished tone he'd a

g, Ethan. Playing savior to the brilliant but poor boy. Helping your

took a step back, searching her face for any

e it work. But reality check: we were never going to have a future. You were drowning in debt. Your mother was

u love," Etha

before disappearing. "Love doesn't pay bills, Etha

money." The realizati

s brittle. "My father taught me that. I

explanation, a reason that would make sense of her betrayal. "If our relationship

e visibly reinforced her cold demeanor. "Consider it a parting gift. Something to

ked for you

I've found someone who can give me the life I deserve, security, sta

e with an intensity that made her shif

Alexa

Ethan challenged. "Say it th

you performances, Ethan. I don't owe you explanations. What I owe

ood she was doing this deliberately, making herself hateful, ensuring he w

e hollow. "Every 'I love you,' every

hrough her facade, a flash of the real Olivia

omery stood in the doorway, her expression carefully neutral

ing," she said to Olivia, her gaze never leaving E

ressing her reflection in the mirror rather than facing him directly. "Goodbye, Ethan. Don't com

ivi

herself clear," Eleanor said fir

omething, anything, that would break through Olivia's wall. But her back rem

ords costing him everything. "I hope he

gasp and a sob, but he didn't look back. Couldn't bear to. The

on as the door closed behind him, her mother rushing to lock

issed, helping Olivia to her feet.

, tears streaming down her face.

n silk. "Think of Grace Chen. Think of the treatment that's

d mutely, struggling

ructed, already moving toward t

ght. She had done what was necessary, made Ethan hate her thoroughly enough to

dest cruelty s

ry of his shattered world. Everything she'd said played on endless repeat in

for love that he'd imagined depth and since

late. When it pulled alongside him in the empty parking lot, he barely registered

e a linebacker, his voice surprisingly

ating his escape routes. "I

duced something from his jacket, a flash

hird man approached from behi

ropped against a wall in what appeared to be an underground parking garage, b

wn knuckles with mild distaste before pulling a monog

r persistence," he said convers

ediately pushed back down by on

lexander continued. "Quite touching, in a de

elings, why the thugs?" Ethan

ying the woman who will solidify my position with Montgomery Industries. The merger

esn't l

ve. I need her name, her connections, and her b

lunged forward, only to be caught by Alexander's men an

signer suit. "Stay away from Olivia. The wedding will proceed. And if yo

ivered several more calculate

pitied you. How she found your desperation charming in a way. Like a stray dog begging for scraps." His smile turned vic

his body, but nothing compared to the agony in his chest. The final confirmation of Olivia

self. For making him believe. For using his mother's illness. Fo

e, he made a vow. He would become someone they couldn't dismiss. Someone with the power to return every humi

Oli

ally O