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Ten minutes later, the car came to a slow stop. The driver cleared his throat. “We’re here.”
“I think I prefer to stay in the car,” I mumbled.
Gracelynn punched me in the arm and she leveled me with a glare. “Get yourself together.” She leaned in closer, to whisper in a low voice so that the driver wouldn’t hear. “You’re about to be married to Killian Spencer. You can’t hide anymore, Sister. You need to be the woman he needs you to be. His equal. He needs you strong and fierce. A lioness. He protects you. You protect him.”
“I don’t know how to be…”
“You do,” my sister cut in. “And you are. A strong woman. Believe that.”
A resigned sigh left my chest and I nodded. “Let’s do this.”
Simon opened the door for us and we climbed out of the car. The engagement party was held in one of my father’s five-star hotels and the entrance itself was grand.
The moment we stepped out of the car, there were multiple flashes and several fast clicks. “Shit,” I cursed under my breath, before plastering a smile on my face.
Gracelynn did the same. We allowed the photographers to take a few photos of us before Simon quickly escorted us inside.
“I didn’t expect them to jump on us like that.”
“What did you expect?” I said, my voice shaking. “This is our first public appearance. And I’m – well, you are engaged to Killian Spencer.”
It was in this very moment that I realized why Killian hated the paparazzi and tabloids so much.
His mother was an A-list actress, so he had been photographed since he was a child. And then his father ran for President for two consecutive terms, which brought Killian more into the limelight. It must have been exhausting, to grow up and mature in such an environment.
We walked past the double door, leading into the banquet hall of the hotel. Gracelynn and I both came to a halt at the entrance, as everyone slowly turned around, their eyes landing on us.
My sister was more comfortable around people and having attention on her. But me? Not so much. How do I stand? Where do I put my hands?
God, I was hyperventilating.
My gaze darted around the banquet hall and when I met familiar dark eyes, I stilled. Killian stood tall and proud, amongst a sea of people, in a black tuxedo. He always looked so graceful and contained. And this self-assured man… belonged to me.
His gaze was riveted on mine, his lips twitching in a half-smile.
My father came to my sister and I. “You two are late,” he whispered, a tight smile plastered on his face.
“Sorry,” Gracelynn apologized. “I had an issue with my outfit.”
What our father didn’t know was that we were purposely late. Our plan was to walk in and out quickly. The less time we spent at this engagement party, the easier it would be for us to keep up our ruse.
Father guided us toward the middle of the room. Killian stood on his right and Father clasped him by the shoulder. “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sure you’re aware already of why we are here tonight. But I still want to make this announcement public. It’s with utmost pride to welcome Killian into the Romano family as my son-in-law. My eldest daughter Gracelynn and Killian are to be married in four months.”
Father gestured toward Gracelynn and I with one hand. We were practically stuck to the hip and we both smiled. To the guests, Gracelynn was my sister.
To Killian, I was Grace.
My heart withered when Killian gave me his signature smirk, looking decadently sinful. I hated how innocently he loved me…while I had been deceiving him from the start.
My secrets had turned our love story into something ugly.
It was unfair and cruel to the man I loved. The guilt of it was too heavy to bear anymore. The longer I dragged these lies, the harder it became for me to look into Killian’s eyes and act like everything was fine and perfect.
I had to tell him the truth.
I have to.
The next thirty minutes passed in a blur. Gracelynn and I stayed together, smiling at the guests, speaking when we were expected to. There were more than a hundred congratulations and my cheeks had started to ache from the stiff smile glued on my face.
Every now and then, I sneaked a glance at my fiancé. Killian was on the other side of the room, talking with a group of gentlemen. Once, our gaze met, and there was something in his dark eyes. Something akin to mischief and need.
Without him even saying a word to me thus far tonight, I knew what he wanted. What he was waiting for.
We both craved to be alone together, in each other’s presence. Away from the crowd. Away from all the judgmental eyes of these people.
