Bound by deception

eels like

at the massive diamond he just slipped onto my finger. The

twisting it around my finger lik

imes," Ethan says, standin

ng me I'll breathe air or drink water. As i

. "Afraid someone will think y

n us. He doesn't touch me, but it feels like he does. His ener

business?" His voice drops an octave,

, my pulse skips. I hate how my body reacts to him, how

n up. "Don't fl

air, space, anything to st

. Doesn't call after me

nto the private elevator,

down at t

naire Ethan Sinclair En

through the notifications, eac

Engagement: B

t: Gold Digger

me to process this nightmare myself,

s slide open, and I

Fl

ghts explode

hou

rlap, each one more ag

's entrance like vultures sensing fresh meat. Micro

l to be engaged to New York'

han's mistress

real reason Et

ke bullets. My breath c

igh-profile, but thi

escape, but strong fing

s me into a sleek black car waiting at the curb.

p, uneven breaths. I clutch the ri

My voice comes out sharp, my

tailored suit is crisp, not a single hair out of place, as if

ng less?" he says, amu

"A little warning

le. "You're my fiancée now," he say

lap me harder

your proper

That's not what t

h, my nails digg

hate

that he

him and glare at the ring.

a stat

's a

deepens. "

back when my phone buzzes

, it's not about

someone from

wo

notification. My breath

s, high cheekbones that make her look like she stepped out

headline

's Ex-Fiancée Speaks Out :

old. I click the arti

glares back at me li

ile you s

my spine. My fingers t

notices.

respond.

the article, my h

is not the man h

once. I thoug

e reading this get ou

ch twists

isper, barely able t

ssion hardens.

ne impo

ly? Because she seems imp

his usual arrogance replaced by

ella," he says flatly.

e, parade me in front of the media, and now I'm supposed to

curl into a fist

sn't know what sh

't beli

for a

an press further

window. We're not

a luxury je

What are we

simply opens the door, step

, my pulse s

ile you

ard, then fol

hes forward the moment we step in.

ns to me. "We're getti

ink. "

my finger. "The engagement

f diamonds, but my mind is stil

ler's sales pitch. I do

he woman who was

man who

that won't stop re

ile you

s perfect mask of contr

if she'