Cain

ocating weight of expectation. Brett, true to form, only appeared after most of the

ver. But it was the mark on Brett' s neck that caught my eye, a dark,

what they had been doing ju

ing to know how he could humiliate me like this on my birthday, in front of everyone. I

second before I turned back to the conversation I was having with

oked. He instinctively shifted, trying to block my v

e explosion he was wa

gitate him more than a

king smile. "Playing the part of the magnanimous fiancée? Are you so a

t to become the head of this family, the CEO of Kline Innovations.

"But since you're being so... understandi

l, velvet box. A gasp rippled through the few re

to me, a small hand darted out

s Jul

ice filled with manufactured awe. "It's the limited edition from Cartier!

ard me, immediately dropped. A fond smile

e it?" he a

an answer, he said

, full of triumphant deceit, locking onto mine. It

"I'll just find something else for her. Besides," he added, his voice dri

iation was a familiar, bitter taste in my mo

n a sudden downpour, he' d casually draped his jacket over my shoulders. It was a thoughtless gesture

ght, holding it, breathing in the faint sc

ad spat, his face

d been mortified. Ferdinand had even struck him with his cane for it,

y pathetic devotion for the amusement of his friends.

all just so pathetic. My love

the party suddenly

d down on my arm, stopping me. "What, are y

. "I always knew you were

. I looked down at his hand, then back u

den movement, I y

oice dangerously quie

espect? Why should I? You've been desperate to marry me since we were

y lips. "Who said I wa

ed silence. For a beat, no

t started as a chuckle from one of his cousins and qu

you marry, Faith?" he mocked, his eyes glinting with

und the opulent room. "What,

his older brother, Kaleb, sat alone, almost hidden in

mpt. "The brilliant programmer who had a breakdown and hasn't

the guests' eyes shifting

long he'll even live. And they say the incident... damaged more than just

to me, his smile turni

ating blow. "Are you really willing to spend the rest of

-