His Manipulation, Her Undoing, His End

Kline

veryone expected, my engagement announcement to Holden, along with the official transfer of my voting rights to him. He was late, of cour

lly resting her head on his shoulder, a picture of innocent affection. I saw the knowing glances, the subtle nods of approval from th

ve wanted to crawl into a corner and disappear, the humiliation a physical weight. She would have replayed every l

watching a play unfold, a drama in which I was no longer a principal player, but a criti

e was so accustomed to inflicting. But my gaze was steady, unimpressed. A flicker of something crossed his f

loudly. Then he straightened, holding her hand high, pulling her toward me.

e cologne, the scent that once made my heart race. "You look... well, you look exactly as I expected." He smirked, his eyes raking over my simple, elegant

nique style." She turned to me, her eyes oozing fake sympathy. "But darling, don't you think it's a bit... understated for your

he really thinks he'll marry her after all this?" The words, like tiny darts, pierced

ivid. The night I lost the baby. Holden was with Dianne. I remembered lying alone in that sterile hospital room, the nurses' h

o leave. I couldn't breathe in this gilded cage. I turned, intending to

acing. "The party's just starting. And we have a very important announcement to make. You can't just run off whenever things get a little... real." He pulle

olden." My voice was calm, but the ice in it wa

ne. Always have been." His eyes raked over my face, searching for the old, pliant Cleo. "You forget your place, little girl. You

We all know how much you adore Holden. It's almost... obsessive. But you know he's always been about family,

roar in my ears. But it was no longer a roar t

n quiet. Every eye was on me. "I did want to be Holden's wife. For a l

profound than before. It felt lik

isbelieving laughter. "Did she just say no?" "She

would you choose over me? Your little fantasy doesn't include the reality of the Ingram Corporation. Who else is there? Hazen? Don't be

. He's a wild animal, not a corporate CEO." He shuddered theatrically. "He'd break you. Probably accidentally, but still. He'd shatter that fragile little heart of yours into a thousand pieces. He' s all mu