A Second Chance At The Choosing

lden heir to the Barrett Corporation, believing

He left me to fade away on the cold marble floor of our mansion,

man whose public smile charmed the world wh

me as the villain while my own cousin, Jana

owerful alliance. No one saw the shadow I lived with

fe ended, I

reborn and opene

emony, the day I was supposed

membered every

ess, outcast brother Bra

pte

Talle

arrett, he offered me a choice that l

ch that left a chill in places no one could see. I had loved him with the foolish, all-consuming devotion of a girl who believed her father's sacrifice had earned her a fairytale.

he gleaming, sterile training facility of the Barrett Corporation headquarters, th

any's top instructors. He moved with a lazy grace, sweat plastering his dark hair to his forehead. He was beautiful

e instructor easily disarmed him, sending the practice prop clatte

quiet, all eye

to look at me, his voice laced with the casual

bey, eager for a crumb of his approval. My ha

is gaze in the reflection of

p yourself

d towards me, his charming smile faltering for the first time. The mask was slipping. I could see t

asked, his voice low

small figure darted forwa

her own had passed, and she had repaid their kindness by clinging to Connor like a limpet, both in this

is side, handing it to him with a worshipful gaz

vaporated, replaced by a performance of tender concern.

red, batting her eyelashe

e, Abby? That's what a decent person does. They help. Th

llain, as he always did. The

e dropping so only I could hear. "Your father's legacy bought you a seat at the t

y company from ruin, was a low blow. In my past life, thos

peaking of my father's legacy, I ca

er, the CEO, hung in

ers whispered, shocked. "Why wou

s personally overseeing my Choosing Ceremony," I said, my voice clear an

d Barrett was unheard of. It signified an honor of the highest degree. The syco

ring the Talley alliance, and with the CEO's persona

one did, that I was his for the taking. The debt owed to my father would be paid by

think this changes anything, Abby. You're still mine. Be

my skin. "You wouldn't want to see a repeat of

ng, and the phrasing... it was too specific. A c

Jana's arm. "Come on, let

glance, leaving me standing in a s

my lips, so quiet no

ought I was a foolish girl playing hard to

had n

to Connor Walls again

ed in my mind, a ch

ly know what happen