se's
Hall cler
ilded ballroom I had just left,
suffo
is heavy, steady hand signi
harp, jagged signature that looked l
, sliding the p
hand hovered over the
eover. I was handing my freedom over to a man rumored to have cut
's pathetic ex-fiancée. The girl who
. Eloise
d the document w
Alphonse
le, and he di
of his coat, right next to where I knew he kept his gun. "You are unde
," I said. "I need to fa
a fleeting second, I caught
rk amusement at watching a
walk out, I'm coming in. And if I c
k to the estate I
in Lake Forest, paid for
into a velvet box when th
ois
ld
loosened and his hair disheveled. He
harsh hospita
ed you ten times. Jaidyn... thank God, it was a false alarm.
fixed on my jewelry box
aid. My voice was complete
opped in his tracks, staring
You're overreacting. It was an emergency. I couldn't j
looked a l
s," I said, turning to face him. "I don't wan
We'll reschedule the wedding. Next mon
next month," I said.
e went as pale
ha
walking past him toward the door. "I s
harsh, bruising. It was the first
. "Alphonse wouldn't do t
his hand on my arm until he let go, stung by my icy d
" he yelled, following me into the
ve," I said. I pulle
driveway. Alphonse was leaning against th
and stopped dea
n whispered, his voice t
boss," I
proached Alphonse, I felt a strange, radiating heat. He tossed
the car do
wasn't looking at me; his eyes were f
" I
lood on my wedding nig
nodded.
d away, I watched Holden in the rearview mirro
orner, I caught the look in his
, unadultera
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