Choosing The Forgotten, Finding My King

lie

air thick with anticipation. It was time for Frederick to

ed painfully thin, his face stark against the crisp white of his shirt. He was confined to a wheelchair, a permanent remind

older members of the family. They saw Kolton

ce. It

id, his voice gravelly with age but sharp with wisdom, "the trust stipulates your choice, and I will honor it. Ent

he had concluded, a glint in his eye. His co

s wisdom. Kolton, across the table, had remained impassive, but I could have sworn I sa

one eyeing the fortune and power that controlling Griffin & Associates wielded. Any hint of

t also a blindfold. He truly thought I was still his pathetic, lovesick devotee. I decided then

Austen's smug confidence, and walked towar

nd echoed in the sudden, profound silence. He looked at me,

, "we celebrate Kallie Parrish's twenty-fifth bir

, Kallie will now announce her choice. Her voice, and he

st, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. He had already a

My eyes swept past the snickering faces, past the expectant look

oose Austen, to maintain the status quo, to not drag him into this

y voice clear and unwavering, cutting

ous, deafening. It was a collective

riumph, crumpled into a mask of pure horror.

someone gasped. "K

he declared, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. "Kallie Parrish has chosen Kolton G

ged forward, stumbling over his own feet, his carefully constructed compos

rfectly fine, Austen. And my mind sharper than your

em it's a mistake! You love me! You've always loved me!" He reached for my hand, h

ing over me. "There is no trick, Austen," I s

d. His eyes widened, fixing on me with a mixture

ou're obsessed with me! You've fawned over me for years! You wouldn't choose... him!" he spat the last word,

affection with my sister? I chose Kolton because he possesses something you never will:

now looked at him with dawning respect. The currents of power in the room had shifted, abruptly, decisively. Ove

she cried, rushing to my side. "You're being cruel! Austen was ready to marry you!" She turned to the crowd,

nough for everyone to hear. "Ready to marry me under conditions of an 'independent life'? N

Dennie?" I challenged, my gaze sweepin

cted at her and Austen. Austen looked around, a dawning horror on his face. Hi

n is made," he reiterated, his gaze firm. He looked at Austen, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "Kallie ha

or the first time, called me

holding that subtle hint of disappointment. Instead, they burned with a quiet, fierce intensity. He was

nheritance, his prestige, and the woman he had always treated as his personal "toy." For the first time, I saw f

hoarse, broken. "Frederick is senile! Kolton w

ible but firm. "Tonight, I celebrate with my future husband

utter disbelief, his wo