Cleopatra's Choice

Earlier today, Kevin Ford had stood beside me in front of the media, declaring to the world we were engaged. Forever and ever. Just the two of us.

But now, mere hours later, I found him tucked quietly into a corner of the club's private lounge, arms gently cradling another woman. So delicately. So reverently. As if she were the most precious thing in the world.

Her name was Audrey Eastwood. She was Kevin's childhood sweetheart, the one he had protected since they were kids.

Someone nearby chuckled. "Kevin, don't tell me you're actually serious about Cate? You're engaged already! What's going to happen to our dear Audrey?"

The words hit me like a slap, and I froze at the entrance.

I wanted to know the answer too. Was Kevin, the golden boy of Raellere City's elite, really capable of falling for someone like me—someone who had pulled him back from the brink of death?

Me, with my vocational school diploma and a waitressing job?

I hesitated, then stepped back, melting into the shadows outside the door. From where I stood, I could just make out Kevin's hands—his left index finger rubbing gently against his right thumb, as if deep in thought. Then, so naturally, he reached up to brush a strand of Audrey's hair behind her ear, and he smiled.

"I have too many enemies," he said. "I can't let Audrey become their target. Cate is obedient. If one day she dies in Audrey's place, well, that would be a blessing for her."

Audrey smiled, lips pressed into a perfect little curve.

I was still frozen in place. Numb. Like my body had been drained of heat, like my oversized mascot costume was suddenly letting the cold seep in.

Just one year ago, I had stumbled upon a dying Kevin in the alley behind the restaurant where I worked. I hadn't wanted to get involved—I knew trouble when I saw it—but he had gasped, flipped over, and clutched my ankle with blood-streaked fingers.

"Help me," he had said.

Terrified, I looked down at his face in the shadows, and something made me pull him into my arms. I looked around, found no one, and dragged him back to my tiny apartment.

I spent every last penny I had to save him.

And when he recovered, he said he loved me.

He introduced me to the elite of Raellere City society. And today, he had announced our engagement to the entire city.

I had believed he meant it.

But I wasn't the woman he wanted to protect. I was just the placeholder—a convenient shield he could throw between Audrey and danger.

It was Audrey he truly wanted to keep safe. Always had been.

Lounging in his lap, Audrey laughed. "As if Kevin would ever fall in love with a waitress like her."

And honestly? She wasn't wrong. I was just a waitress. And he was the prince of Raellere City.

How could I possibly match him?

I held back my tears, turned quietly to leave—

And that's when Kevin spoke.

"Hey, you! The one at the door. What are you doing here?"

…

His gaze fell on me like a spotlight. I had no choice but to walk in.

Thank God I was still wearing the full-body frog costume.

Originally, I had worn this ridiculous inflatable suit to give him a birthday surprise. He had told me not to attend tonight's party. He said it was a business affair, full of people who drank too much and talked too loudly. I had a sensitive stomach, he said, and it wasn't worth it.

I'd believed him. I'd smiled, wrapped my arms around his neck, and murmured, "Then come home early."

But now I saw the truth.

These weren't businessmen. These were his usual pack of rich, arrogant drinking buddies. And Audrey—she was here too.

Of course, with her here, I had no place.

One of his friends pointed a finger at my head, face twisted in mockery. "Hey, what are you? Who let you in here?"

I said nothing.

I simply stepped in front of Kevin and began to dance.

No music. No lights. Just me, in my ridiculous green frog suit, doing a clumsy rendition of "Happy Birthday"—a dance I had rehearsed alone in my living room for days.

It was the only gift I had to give.

But my heart wasn't in it anymore. I stumbled. The costume sagged awkwardly. My body moved like it wasn't mine.

In a moment of imbalance, I knocked into the drinks table beside me.

A half-full bottle of red wine toppled—landing with an unforgiving splash on Kevin's bespoke suit.

My stomach dropped.

Kevin was obsessive about cleanliness. He once broke a woman's hand for spilling a drink on him. Literally. Her wrist was in a cast for months.

And now I had done the unthinkable.

Gasps erupted.

"Who is this woman? Thinks she can seduce Kevin by dressing up like a frog?"

"Just because he's engaged doesn't mean he's not still top shelf. Women are dying to get into his bed!"

"Take off that headpiece! Let's see what kind of trash thinks she's worthy of Kevin!"

A hand reached for my head.

I jerked away instinctively, stepping back.

Another man rolled up his sleeves, stalking toward me. "You skank!"

I backed into a corner. There was nowhere to run.

I shut my eyes, bracing myself for the blow.