Chapter 6
She said in a choked voice,
“I know I upset Miss Sinclair. Even if she set someone up to ruin my reputation, I shouldn’t have barged in and wrecked her birthday party.”
“What if she tells Mr. Sinclair something and he cuts off your allowance? All three of you would be left with nothing… I–I don’t want to drag you down with me.”
As soon as she finished, the three of them looked even more sullen.
The thing they hated most was being reminded they were living under someone else’s roof.”
Decker snapped, his face icy, “I can stand on my own two feet. Even if I lose my allowance, I’ll manage.“>>
Grant reached over and patted Cassidy gently on the head.”
“Don’t worry. Ileana can’t handle the Sinclair family business on her own. Sooner or later, she’ll beg the three of us to come back and run the company.”
“And don’t talk like you’re a burden. Ileana’s the real culprit here. If she hadn’t tried to set you up, she wouldn’t have been humiliated and abandoned by us today.”
They all acted as if today was just a minor embarrassment for her, never considering the possible consequences.
Growing agitated, Grant finally pulled out his phone and sent me a message:}]
[You went too far today. There’s no need to throw your life away by marrying a useless cripple. As long as you apologize to Cassidy, I’ll marry you.]
He pictured my face lighting up with happiness when I saw the message–until the screen flashed a red exclamation mark. Instantly, his
mood soured.
I hadn’t just deleted him from my contacts. I’d blocked him altogether.
In the second half of the party, dozens of helicopters appeared overhead, showering the grounds with millions of dollars‘ worth of pink
roses.
Amid the sea of flowers, Fleming–his face cold and severe was wheeled out of a helicopter.
He started toward me from the far end of the red carpet, his eyes soft and warm.
My father stared in shock, eyes wide. “What’s he doing here?“}]
The other guests were just as baffled.
After all, everyone thought of Fleming as nothing more than a paralyzed invalid.
But he was so much more: the sole heir to the most powerful old–money family in the city.”
If the Donovan family hadn’t insisted on marrying someone of equal status, Fleming would have had women lining up to marry him long ago.
The truth was, the Donovans were the city’s aristocracy–old money with deep roots. The Sinclairs, by comparison, had only risen to prominence in the past few decades. They were wealthy, but lacked any real pedigree.
Everyone assumed that by marrying Fleming, I’d be nothing but a pretty ornament in their family, and that the Donovans wouldn’t take this engagement seriously.”
As the guests gossiped and speculated, Fleming just smiled and said,
“What’s an engagement party without the groom?”
“Hope I’m not late.”
He held out a bouquet of imported Bulgarian roses, waiting for me to take it.
I didn’t leave him hanging. Smiling, I took the roses from his hands.
“Your timing is perfect.”
For a moment, the perpetual chill in Fleming’s eyes melted away. For the first time, he looked almost gentle–even toward everyone else. The sight stunned the entire room.
Before his accident, Fleming was notorious for his icy demeanor. Afterward, he became even more ruthless–he’d even kicked his own father out of the house without blinking.
Just as my hand closed around Fleming’s, Grant strode back in through the front doors, his expression dark.
People frowned at his return.
“Is Grant regretting his decision?”
“He must’ve acted out of anger. Now he’s come to make amends,”
“Grant and Ms. Sinclair practically grew up together. If he just swallowed his pride and apologized, she’d probably call off this engagement to the Donovans in a heartbeat.”
Before I could say a word, Fleming’s grip on my hand tightened.
His face remained calm, but there was a storm raging in his eyes.}}
