Flash Marriage To My Mysterious General

look absolut

pagne flute cold against her fingertips. "Thank

Crystal chandeliers dripped light onto men in tailored tuxedos and women in jewel-toned gowns. Th

ith every step. She felt a warmth spread through her chest, a pure, uncomplicated happines

. He looked impossibly handsome, his dark hair perfectly styled, hi

rself and glid

traightened his black bow tie, a small, intimate gesture in the

nd grounding. He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear.

o him for a brief moment, inhaling the clean scent of his cologne, a cust

on the small stage at the front of the ballroom. A gentle

s voice smooth and practiced. "It is now time for the moment we've all been wa

ause rippled t

zed her han

g as if it were permanently

spotlight found them, a circle of brilliant white that made the r

and. He cleared his throat, the sound

esonating with easy charm. "It means the world to Annabel

aces. Annabel stood beside him, her hand resting in

ubtle change, a stiffening of his sho

s tone changing, losing its warm

Clarify? What was there to clarif

e space between them felt like a chasm. He turned to look at her, bu

ke a warm embrace and more

flat and devoid of emotion.

unds, meaningless syllables hanging in the air. Her b

l blow, his voice ringing

in love with

ballroom erupted into a cacophony of shocked gasps and frantic

umb, except for her skin, which felt like it was on fire. Every eye in the room was on he

atherine Hampton, their faces a mask of white, horrified disbelief. Her mother's hand w

stood near the front. And on their faces, she saw it. Not shock. Not surprise.

y k

ent decision. This was a performance. A calculated, public execution of her dignity. The

le was instantly vaporized by a white-hot surge of fury. The grief was sti

d not crumble. She would no

a step, Annabel moved. Her hand shot out and snatched the microphone from

e shards of glass in her throat. Her voice, when she

. Sterling, fo

st the curious faces, and landed sq

ed," she said, her gaze locking with Warren's, "

g for a beat, feeling t

e collaborations between Hampton Industries a

ispers in the crowd changed from gossipy shock to business-minded alarm. T

n't expected this. He had expected tears, a quiet, di

ally cracked. His face darkened, his

. She spoke into the microphone, her voice low an

am not an object to b

e stand with a heavy, definitive thu

d toward the edge of the stage. The sound of her heels clicking again

he shadows of the wings did her vision begin to blur.

Sterling, Blake's mother. Her face

venomous whisper. "You've embarrassed us

way, a bitter, humorless

ping with ice. "You orchestrated this entire far

m backstage area, the muffled chaos of the party behind her. Adrenaline coursed throu

The failure of the merger wasn't just a personal humil