The Cost of Deception

family home and started thi

f marriage to shower me with affection

ere just ploys to keep me

delete those videos Lucas

e up, I began pa

stuffed them with everyt

g pajamas, matching slippers, photos we took

orning by Laura's shrill voice. "Why? You and Derek are sworn enemies! Why are you mak

. If you marry him, Derek's promised to cover fifty percent of the funds to secure

on the roar of his luxury car

to arrange a marriage de

nd found Laura throwing a

mined smile, my gaze unwavering. "One billion, and

the money to my ac

.

on taking me to an auction. I

ed in a perfectly tailored designer gown, chatt

Though he stood by my side, hi

t in the main hall, while Braelynn

s cold, feeding me fruit by hand, no

ripheral vision caught thei

elf to the restroom,

t before getting

ing Braelynn against the wall, kissing her fierce

countless intimate moments, I'd never

ny, and it took all my

as left first, answ

ow Lucas proposed to me, right? We're having a wedding in Las Vela, every deta

n, to scream and cry, but I refus

tion stage ahead, spine str

"You don't seem

smile, my heart i

be when I'd heard it

d for a fleeting moment, his expression h

done with him. Whatever

Braelynn. "When

wo we

e. Two weeks to

rkened when she sa

ted the red cloth on a tray,

ath ca

celet my grand

struggling, I sold it t

d see it again, he

ing paddle. "One

aising her paddle with a smug smile. "I like

to my palm. "Thre

undred

undred

oared to on

ynn remained calm, her eyes mocking. "Ne

litely asked if I

ed my paddle.

aged her father, but the Phillips family had been declin

's secretary burst into the hall a

esires today will be claimed by Mr.