ght of a dozen crystal chandeliers. Tonight was supposed to be t

his arm. He was handsome, the heir to the Turner

te with us," I said into the microph

olitely. My eyes found my parents in the

le plastered on his face. "Jane and I are so exc

for the velvet box h

en it, a commotion eru

dress torn at the shoulder. Her hair was

ried out, her v

d friend. The woman he always to

anished. His en

hlo

er eyes fixed on him. "Alex, hel

onto the flo

ilence, all eyes swinging from the woman

x let go of my arm. He jumped off t

you?" he asked, his voice laced with a

single glance back at me, carried her out of th

icked shut

ical weight, pinning me in place for everyone to see. The sil

that? He jus

ment night, too.

isn't it? They' ve al

ed into a cold, hard knot in my stomach. I wan

he stage in shame, another fi

Daniel

se family was even more powerful

ntion. He stopped in front of the attendant' s stand

tood before me. The whispers in the crowd

said, his voice low but clear. He glanced at the diamond in his han

g that stunned the en

own on o

d, his voice ringing with sincerity. "He

m. My mind went completely blank. I stared

ulled out a different box. He opened it to reveal a stunning emer

nd strong. "It belongs to the matriarch of our family. My grandmot

a stark contrast to Alex' s casual abandonment. He wasn' t ju

shock, then to awe, and finally, to envy. Marrying into t

a strange flicker of something else. It wasn

ly knew, offering me more dignity in a si

a deep

y voice shaking bu

he engagement ring onto my finger and then carefully cl

e lounge door

makeup smudged, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips. Ale

on my finger, and his face darkened. But he

ively, as if he were scolding a child. "Stop

ce sickly sweet and drip

e said, pressing herself closer to Alex. "Alex was just taking care