The Coma Groom's Awakening

illion

ophone, boomed through the ballroom, sharp an

glinting, stood near the stage. He held

us benefactor," the auctioneer announced, his voi

through the room. Heads

For a neckla

, a slow, triumphant smile spread across her face. She looked ar

d that kind of

hes Miss Vance to have the necklace. The bidding from ou

imi

terious benefactor, so wealthy and

ense of shock replaced by a radiant, victorious

in black, likely to inquire

s Vance at the appropriate time," the re

mine across the room. Her smile wa

carrying. "It seems someone thinks

d turne

kn

fore I ev

looked

g in the shadows near an

stage. He wasn't looking

ing directl

open, blatant adoration, such tender devot

Alexander Knight, was Chl

tune to publicly humiliate me and

blur of other items. Bu

rare first edition, a trip to a private island – the m

es Miss Vance to h

and

daughter of Marcus Monroe, was suddenly the most talked-about woman in New

lt s

man in black

I demanded, my voice lo

ipal's only concern is Miss Chloe Vance's happiness

d and wa

s feelings.

was a living thin

ted terrace, needing air, needing to escape the suffoca

d little to soothe th

tst

re you

e wouldn't miss an o

dow behind her, ostensibly to "protect" her, bu

loe," I said, no

d beside me at the railing. "I wonder who my mysterious admirer

ed impassive, but I saw the slight tighte

said, his voice a low murmur, ostensibly

clenched

ically. "It's all so overwhelming. All

one. "Ethan, you've been so quiet tonight. What do you think of a

listen to t

ed, turning to face them. "Your l

instantly. "Ava! Why are you being so m

"Or are you just enjoyi

ly. "Miss Monroe, perhaps yo

dyguard, a man I trusted, is secretly a billionaire who's using his fortune to p

face a mask of shocked innocence. "Ethan? A

neutral, but a muscle pulsed

, "your devotion is truly touching. Tell me, does Alexander Knight

ther's opinions are his o

ently, are for her," I gest

g sobs. "Ava, how can you say such cruel thing

a flicker of concern in his eyes. Then he looked back at m

stark contrast. Tendernes

mething cold and

dn't win, because he w

believe every