Reborn to Avenge: The Heir's Second Chance
I said, my voice calm,
htly, a flicker of su
relieved,
"Do tell. Someone fro
e chosen would be a consola
Ramirez," I
froze. Chad looked
finally managed, her v
repeated. "A U.S
d, a delicate,
quaint, Ethan. Tryi
g, unpleasant sound, and lo
us keep you fro
isdain and something else I couldn't quit
ver her shoulder, "Good luck wi
Chad and whispered som
go, a cold knot
ak, and Brittany was its
would not let h
of a desire for social stand
world of glitter and ambiti
rez spread through New York high society like
abled war hero!" the g
ir makes shoc
y was b
any' s "old money" clan, wer
me elaborate play, that I wa
mansion, asking for comments
o private, found themselve
t I was trying to make Britta
new" I had been obsess
naive fool blinded by her
one who remembered d
an Ainsworth conne
queenmaker, her inf
ccess, power, and an unshakeable
the Vanderbilts were no exception, despite th
eld a different view
ill hers for the taki
as, in her eyes, a desp
Ainsworth Foundation office where I som
other with a
think you're doing?" she demanded, sl
ious, her f
iage to some crippled s
chair, keeping my
rittany. And Captain
ing to try and ge
e me want you? You think
office, her an
an. I will never marry you. I am with
e old pain, the memory
verlaid with the knowledg
y me, Brittany," I said qu
et to you.' My wedding to
rd truth of my past life,
r, keeping me from being
I would not
tarily speechless, perh
. "You're lying. This
a game,
is for me, then stop it! You're making a fool of yourself
stated, my voice firm. "Captain
tered. "What other reason could there be for her to marry
s something you
I see is a desperate man
voice dropping to a c
e happy if this blows up in your
ow, recovering from a minor health scare she tried to ke
id, though I knew her support was cond
frustration
ere stubborn,
take for you
Brittany. That's why
hands up in
But don't come crying to
d a parting shot,
ment soon, a real engagement. You'll see
a public spectacle, designed to over
she
nced their engagement with a lavish party,
diant and "in love
efully chosen to coincide with mine, though they d
ialite, choosing her true love, while Ethan Cole, th
ingstock, the jilted man
rwhelmingly that I was still
alm, unaffected by the
y confirmed wha
ilt meant nothin
were like distant echoes from a lif
nsworth insisted I attend
, her voice firm despite her recent fatig
e public ridicule, about how it
cing myself for
aused an imm
e shadows as I moved thr
s thick wi
ttany and Chad, their opulent engagement, their t
joke of th
us as Brittany's fiancé, approac
, clapping me on the shou
thrilled. Our wedding is going to be the event of the season. We're t
loating, enjoying my
d us watched, e
e, my express
ons, Chad," I
e slightly, enough for
aya Ramirez is also in five days.
nlookers. Chad' s smugness faltered. Br
d me, that I would b
were
ent of quiet, I stepped out onto
ights twin
ne shoved me ha
ed over the low railing into the dark
liar terror of drowning,
's betrayal, the dark
happeni