Ashes of Ambition

tion of love for Leyla

pread like wildfire thro

e buzzed incessa

ad, and her older brother, who was away

the tears she had held ba

t her and turned to leave. "I'm going to s

there's no need. Making a scene will o

ion darkened,

en't you two happy together?"

ecounted the story

the coffee table. "Fine, just fine! I t

gave a bit

misjudged

on Province, and Alexandra, as the family's eldest daugh

have lined up from the Clayto

d been on

n to his looks, though not e

while her other suitors panicked, Caiden t

ospital room for an ent

lexandra kissed him and smile

alized his devotion like

in self-mockery, her expr

case, she no lon

mbering something. "Are you still a

. "Why wouldn't I? I'm not the

ng event for community developme

ived, the event wa

one, the crowd excha

ether she and Caiden were having issu

discuss it, acted as if nothing was wrong. "

and accepted a gl

at the entrance. S

aid gown walked in, ar

s expressi

he lau

aiden. Truly

resemblance to Alexandra,

the Clayton family had been some

hampagne flute ne

to let others see he

self-control not to mar

her presence, led Leyla to

of silence, the gala r

no longer pretend

you okay?"

I thought the rumors were false, but h

d to cons

nd-in for you. Caiden's probably jus

e gets bored, he'll toss h

" a cold, deep voice i

aiden standing there, his ar

, carried an air of autho

, he seemed to c

n Alexandra. He spoke slowly. "I've always loved Leyla. S

ho the real stand-in

ned toward Alexandra, m

dug into

declaration of love was

trample her dignity

s. I'm the one who pursued her relentlessly," he said. "And here, I formally requ

erupted i

ack. She stepped forward and sla