The Fiancé's Cruel Deception

Mitchel

ampagne, danced on tables, and flirted with strangers, all in a desperate attempt

the lights flashed, and the air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume

s, surrounded by a fawning entourage. She looked utt

welcome home party. The Morris family, now bending

e. A smirk played on her lips. She whispered something to her fri

m sneered, loud enough for me to hear.

et the memo? Charlton' s done wi

d Kiara would have thrown it. The old Kiara would hav

ng. Still slumming it? I thought by now you'd have found another poor sap to latch onto.

w blood. Instead, I let my face crumple, my eyes filling with a look of profound,

ing just enough to be convincing. "

my glass onto the front of her shimmering silver dress.

asp went throu

ed composure shattering. "You clumsy bitch

wanted to talk to you." I began to sob, not loud, but heart-wrenching, silent tears streaming down my f

ctor; she was a vicious shrew bullying a heartbroken, traumatized woman.

otion. He saw Giuliana, red-faced and screaming about

his voice low and dangerous, but his anger wa

harlton's arm. "She did it on purpose, Ch

imhood. "I'm sorry, Charlton," I whispered. "I just w

ce in his eyes. This wasn't the clean break he wanted. My

rm, his grip tight. He pulled me away fro

art, don't you? You think you know everything." His breath was hot against my skin. "But yo

sk of fear perfectly in place. This

ture. A venture that could easily... disappear, if I don't get what I want. And what I want, for now, is you to

's done, you're free. You can go wherever you want. But if you ca

ng meekly. "I understand," I chok

rolled, perfectly broken. He had no idea he had just hand

rough the tense silence. Red lights flashed, and p

ously so cold, now had a frantic edge. He p

ed, pushing through

was gone, swallowed by the chaos, rus

owed by the blare of the alarm and the

ating. The air grew thick, making it hard to breathe.

ghts disoriented me. My head hit something hard, and a

room, the antiseptic smell burning my nostrils. My head th

e said, her voice soft. "Smoke inh

open. Charlton.

" I asked, my

r head. "Not yet.

pushing myself up despite th

nurse's protests falling on deaf ears. My body a

hen I arrived, the house, usually so quiet, was buzzing with ac

wn by the sound of voices from the living

atrically tearful, floated through the air. "Charlton s

pressed myself agains

concern, a tone he rarely used with me. "That Kiara,

resemblance to Giuliana, chimed in. "Don't worry, Jermaine. Giuliana is

reeled

man I vaguely recognized from society pages, was stroking Giuliana's h

satisfaction. "Giuliana will make a wonderful d

My mother's mai

swam. It c

d Charlton, of course. Such a charming young man. He' ll mak

of betrayal. Giuliana wasn't just Charlton's "true love." S

ly had a twisted

ead snapping up, saw me. His face, initially fl

ropping to a low, warning ton

rowing with a malicious glee. "Oh, look who

uliana, her mother's smug pronouncements – it

trembling finger at my father, "

ara, don't be ridiculous. You're ov

to her mother. The three of them,

grabbed the nearest object – a heavy c

ng crash, scattering shards

ith anguish and fury. "You just replac

w clenching. He took a step toward

rled. "Always causing trouble

My world had imploded. And I was going to