Just A Substitute: The Don's Lost Love

four years, handing Marcus Tho

s arm around his fiancée, Chloe-th

al blow ca

g three mugs of scalding

't move to

from the table because Chl

shed across my chest, b

ony, Marcus simply che

fiancé, David, desperately poured ice water on m

rant without looking back,

ctor dropped another bo

didn'

was carrying an

had lost three years ago-the one I miscarried w

ears and loo

dy," I whispered.

nd was a medical report of the child he killed with

pte

ie

had been my sanctuary for ten years and my prison for the last

ing against the thi

g. It was a funeral for

beast of stone and glass that had swallowed my childhood whole. It looked exactly the same as

warmth w

r smelled of lemon polish and the expensive

ll

s. It was low, rough, and vibrated throu

oked

n my first car, tailored to fit shoulders that carried the weight of the city's underw

. He didn't rus

as a stranger who had tr

t a question. It was a statement

e for four years in Floren

this. I wouldn't let him see my hands shaking. "I'm only

pped two steps above me, forcing me to crane my neck. The power dynamic w

ze flicking over my sim

he cream-colored envelope. "An

r of something dark passed through his eyes-annoyance? Bet

that what this is? Another one of your stunts to get attention? Who

And he doesn't need your money. We are

past me, ignoring the invitation still suspended in the air. "

inkling under my grip. The reje

s, dar

eet, and grated on my

londe, radiant. She wore silk that clung to her curves and diamonds that cau

looped her arm through his. He did

w. The rumors were true. The "Prince" had fou

reaching her eyes. "We heard you we

over to me. "I was just having tea in the pa

abbed my wrist, her nails digging in,

resence looming behind

ot. Her movements were graceful,

linting. "Marcus tells me

I said, taking the

"Love. You're so naive, Ellie. In our world,

r. He was watching

o get sugar. As she passed m

ed in slo

rew herself sideways with a dramatic gasp. She knocked her o

eamed, clutch

nt. He grabbed her hand, inspecting t

face in Marcus's chest. "I was just tryin

r from my lungs. I sat there, tea dripp

't-" I

" Marcus

rderous. The indifference was gon

ze," he

t my arm. I did

he believed it. "You come into my house, disres

y in the air. Not that he would hit me-Marcus didn'

as smirking behind her h

who had once promised my dyi

ecting me. He

ned to stone

ds tasted like ash. "I'm sorry I

back to Chloe, cooing at her like she was a wo

on my leg throbbed, but it was nothing com

ven ask if

happy couple to their twisted performanc

here. I wasn't a fri

ould burn this br