He Protected His Childhood Friend, Not His Princess Fiancée
The old duke had gone to the palace three times and surrendered control over three Northmere estates before my father finally agreed to the engagement.
Cassian Blackwell, Duke of Northmere, was young, powerful, wealthy, and apparently handsome enough to satisfy the entire court.
To me, he was simply the man my brother had chosen because he was terrified I would lose my head over some man at the border and forget my family entirely.
So he ordered me home for the engagement ceremony.
Out of basic respect for the occasion, I went to choose the pink diamond necklace I would wear that night.
The moment I stepped into the jewelry boutique, one necklace caught my eye.
“That one is pretty,” a sharp, arrogant voice said behind me. “I’ll take it. Bring it here.”
Before I could react, the sales associate pulled the box out of my hand.
I straightened and kept my voice even.
“Did no one ever teach you that customers are served in order?”
The woman looked me up and down with open contempt.
“The necklace costs three point two million,” she said, smiling as she tapped the crest pinned to her jacket. “Can you afford that? I grew up with the Duke of Northmere. In this city, I decide what I get.”
Blackwell.
What a coincidence.
Cassian Blackwell was the fiancé I was supposed to meet that night.
I took out my phone and dialed his number.
“Cassian, your childhood friend is trying to take the necklace I chose for our engagement ceremony. How would you like me to handle her?”