Chapter 3

That was exactly what I wanted.

Only if everyone knew the engagement was over would Cade be free to marry someone else without carrying a mess from the past.

But I didn't say that. I made up an excuse.

"Cade, I'm thinking of you here."

"Leah's making her first real entrance into the Carter circle. She can't show up looking like she doesn't belong. Let her borrow the jewelry for now. Once our ceremony's done, you can replace them. Simple."

Cade hesitated, then nodded.

"You always think of everything."

I forced myself upright. "Come on, let me show you the pieces."

"You can check which ones came from the Russell family so we know what needs to go back later."

Cade frowned. "Celine, aside from the ring and the family heirlooms, everything else is yours now. Do whatever you want with it. Nothing to replace."

The words slipped out before I could stop them. "Everything that should go back, will. One piece short is one piece owed. I don't want things getting messy later."

Cade stopped dead.

"Celine, we're about to get married. Why are you keeping score?"

I caught my mistake.

"Of course I'm keeping score. That way you owe me more. Once we're married, you'll have to pay me back double."

Cade finally relaxed, taking it as a joke.

"Deal. Whatever you say."

"Double? No. Ten times."

Cade went with Leah to look at the jewelry. Leah was beaming, clinging to his arm, chattering nonstop.

They looked more like a couple than Cade and I ever did.

Nina was grinding her teeth. "Sis, this is insane. Why did you say yes?"

My voice was calm. "I don't want to owe him."

From the moment Cade and I met at a charity gala five years ago, he'd given me everything he had.

Back then I hadn't been diagnosed yet. I was just always a little unwell.

Cade, who'd never done anything but race cars and hit up nightclubs, started going to hospitals with me, studying my test results, even learning basic care. He looked after me like it was his entire purpose.

My father thought he was reckless, unreliable. Refused to let me see him.

So Cade worked himself half to death. Took over the Russell Group. Won over the board and secured the trust. Became one of the youngest CEOs in the industry.

Then he showed up at our door, proper and formal, and asked my father for his blessing.

Two years ago, my father was framed by a business rival. Accused of embezzling disaster relief funds. Nearly destroyed. The entire Winston Group almost went down with him.

It was Cade who ran himself ragged, found the evidence, cleared my father's name, and saved our family's reputation.

He'd done more than enough for me and my family.

When you're about to die, you don't want to leave with debts still hanging.

Leah's shriek pulled me out of my thoughts.

She was standing in front of my wedding dress, eyes shining.

"Celine, your dress is gorgeous!"

"Cade, I want one exactly like this."

Cade nodded gently. "Sure. I'll have one made for you."

Nina scoffed. "Cade, my sister sewed that dress by hand. Stitch by stitch."

"Her craftsmanship? You couldn't find a second person in this entire city who could pull it off."

"Maybe tell Leah to pick something else."

The light in Leah's eyes went out.

She laughed at herself, quiet and sad. "Forget it, Cade. Custom work like that was never meant for someone like me."

Cade's heart visibly ached. He rubbed her head, then turned to me. "Celine, Leah's wedding is next week. Is there time to make her a dress?"

Nina shot to her feet.

"Cade, my sister started sewing that dress the day you came to our door with the proposal. It took her a full year!"

"One week? Are you out of your mind?"

"We're already letting her use the Winston name. That's more than generous. And now you want my sister to make her a wedding dress? Who does she think she is?"

Leah's voice went small. "Cade, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. This kind of thing was never in the cards for me."

Nina didn't leave her an inch.

"Leah, you're apologizing to the wrong person. The one you're putting out is my sister."

"And your bad luck is your parents' problem, not ours. What's with the sad face? We don't owe you a thing."

I saw the way Cade was looking at Leah. I stopped Nina, took the dress off its hanger, and held it out.

"Making one from scratch? No time."

"But since Cade asked, I'll give you this one."

Leah and I had similar builds. A few alterations from a tailor and it would fit her perfectly.