Chapter 3

A commotion rippled through the room—murmurs rising, gasps breaking like waves on marble, faces turning toward me in horrified awe. Caden’s world cracked open right in front of him. His breath stuttered. His lips parted, trying to form words, but all that came out was the beginning of a whimper. Like a child realizing the story doesn’t end the way the fairytale promised.

And then—came the laugh. High and clear. I glanced toward the sound.

It’s Leon’s mother.

She clasped her hands over her layers of pearls draped around her neck, her eyes glimmering with delight. “Well,” she chirped, voice echoing, “this is simply wonderful. And here I was thinking my dear Leon was gay.”

A stunned silence fell again, heavier this time. Weighted with disbelief and the thrum of something unraveling.

Leon turned slowly, like a man summoned from a storm.

His expression was a mosaic of reactions: horror, resignation, and dry amusement. “Mother,” he sighed, voice laced with warning and disbelief. “Please don’t start.”

She waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, hush. It’s lovely. You finally have a girlfriend. I was beginning to think I’d have to adopt a grandchild.”

A twitch ghosted at the corner of Leon’s mouth, gone before it took full form.

Then he turned to me. He stepped forward, close enough for the scent of his cologne to brush over me—smoke and cedar and the kind of money you couldn’t fake. His presence was like stepping into shade after too much sun—calming.

“What do you want?” he asked, brows furrowed.

He didn’t try to soften the way he spoke. Nor was it an actual question—it was a demand. Everything else in the room fell away. I couldn’t hear the crowd anymore or feel the heat of the lights on my skin. All I could focus on was the sudden cold in his eyes and the way my pulse slammed through my chest.

I met his eyes, unflinching. “I did this for you,” I said, quietly enough that only he could hear. “And for me.”

A flicker of something crossed his face—doubt, recognition, anger. Maybe all three.

Behind us, Caden’s father stepped forward, barely containing his fury. His voice cut through the air, bitter and abrupt. “This is absurd. Caden, control your woman. For heaven’s sake!”

Your woman. Not fiancée. As if I’m not a person with feelings—but a simple possession.

Caden flinched but didn’t say a word. Honestly, I think he was too stunned to speak.

Even with his parents’ eyes burning holes through my dress, I couldn’t stop the slight upward pull at the corners of my mouth. My gaze shifted back to them.

They were looking at me the same way they had on my wedding day—glacial, judging—right before I bled out in the house they’d so carefully decorated.

They hadn’t loved me. They hadn’t even liked me.

I was only tolerated because they wanted to please Leon’s mother. 

“No one controls me,” I said. My voice was clear now—my chin raised as I looked from one person to the next, straight in the eyes. “Not anymore.”

Caden surged forward, clearly desperate now. His pristine mask was cracking at the edges. “Scarlett—please. You’re confused. This isn’t you. Let’s just go to the registry office. Get married. Fix this. I love you—”

“Don’t,” I snapped, rage spiking through my body. “Don’t lie to me. You love what I represent. You love what I give you.”

“I still don’t believe you.” He went still for a moment, then added accusingly, “There’s no proof to your wild tales.” 

I turned to Leon again. My gaze drifted lower, to his chest. His suit—sleek, tailored—fit like it had been stitched directly onto his skin. I reached up, bravely, slowly, fingers brushing the lapel.

A low murmur rippled through the crowd again. He didn’t move. But his body tensed—shoulders taut, spine straight.

“You want proof?” I said to Caden, my eyes steadied on Leon. “You want to know how I know things I shouldn’t?”

I slid closer, until there was no room left between me and Leon but heat. “Your uncle has a tattoo,” I announced, fingers grazing Leon’s collar. “Black flame. Mid-back. Just below the spine.”

Leon inhaled sharply. Barely audible—but I caught it. “How do you know I have a tattoo?” 

My eyes widened–and I realized a moment too late that it was the wrong thing to say. “Well, I…” I swallowed, my eyes flicking to Caden before snapping back to Leon. I leaned into Leon, masking the tremble in my chest with a steady voice as I whispered the lie into his ear, “I just know.”

I had no choice but to lie. How was I supposed to tell this man that I’d walked in on him while he was in the shower?

It was a year ago, at the Rosenthal lakehouse. During one of Caden’s family gatherings his mother hosted. I took the wrong hallway. Opened the wrong door.

I remembered every fine detail from that encounter. From the thick layer of steam on the mirror, and more particularly, the water sliding down his muscular back. 

How for a moment I hesitated in the doorway–just staring. I couldn’t forget an incredible body like Leon’s. 

Leon’s frown only deepened. 

Caden, on the other hand, reeled like he’d been punched. “You…” His voice cracked. “You cheated on me?”

I turned my full attention to him. Let him see the edge in my smile. “No. I left you.”

His hands shook. His eyes darted around the room, looking for support that didn’t come. “You’ve become evil,” he hissed.

I stepped toward him. “No. I fell in love.”

And then I turned, grabbed Leon by the lapels, and kissed him.

The room exploded. I could hear chairs scraping as people got up from their seats. Someone dropped a glass—another person was having a coughing fit.

I didn’t care. I kissed Leon like I had every right to. Like I had the history to back it up. It was a kiss that burned. One that branded.

He didn’t kiss me back.

But—he didn’t stop me either.

I pulled away, my breathing sharp. “See that?” I said, loud and clear. “Dear nephew.”

Caden stood there, hollowed out. His jaw clenched so hard I thought it might shatter. “You’ll regret this,” he spat.

“I strongly doubt it,” I shrugged, unbothered. But truth be told—I might. Definitely not today, though.

He stormed off, his parents chasing after him. Poor baby boy. I couldn’t resist rolling my eyes at their backs.

Silence. Then—

“Well!” Leon’s mother clapped her hands. “Isn’t this just delightful?”

She turned to the band. “Keep playing! Champagne for everyone! My son has a girlfriend!” And with that, she disappeared into the glittering chaos, a trail of sequins and satisfaction in her wake.

I exhaled, ready to pull a vanishing act of my own—but Leon moved faster than the thought. His hand clamped around my wrist as he bit out, “You’re not going anywhere.”

I turned slowly as he stepped in, closer than he had any right to be.

I backed up until my spine hit the wall, the cold of the marble slicing through the thin fabric at my back. He didn’t touch me again—but he didn’t need to. His hand slammed against the wall beside my head, boxing me in.

His face hovered just inches from mine. I could feel his breath against my lips—hot, uneven. His ice-blue eyes locked onto mine, unblinking. I could see every fleck of gold in the tousled wreckage of his hair brushing against my forehead. He was that close.

“Now,” he said, voice low, dangerous, and crackling with fury. “You’re going to explain. All of it.”