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I couldn’t even look at Cole, knowing I would find a sad expression on his face. My grandfather gave a speech about The Founders and our duty to this country.
Midway through the speech, Rhys whispered, “You can relax, princess. I won’t bite.” His hand moved to my ass. “Not now, anyway.”
I pressed my lips tighter.
To make a sound would only piss off my grandfather. Besides, I didn’t want anyone in the audience to see me squirm.
On the outside, Rhys was a pretty boy and looked the part. But a monster lurked beneath his designer suit. He could give me that shit-eating smirk all he wanted because I saw right through his perfect exterior.
“Rhys has something he would like to ask Grace,” my grandfather said at the end of his spiel.
Rhys lowered to one knee, holding out a black box with a massive diamond ring inside. It looked like the kind of jewelry passed down for centuries—not something you could pick up at the mall on your way home from work.
A diamond fit for a queen.
Rhys took my hand, and I jerked at the sudden connection. His skin was soft and warm like he’d never worked a day in his spoiled life.
I glanced at my grandfather. He tipped his head at Rhys and gave me a stern look.
Rhys clutched my fingers, rough and possessive. “Grace, will you marry me?”
And when you’re asked a question, the answer is yes. Nothing else.
I let my grandfather’s words roll around in my head. He would probably kill me if I said no. Maybe even lock me in his basement without light, food, or water.
It wouldn’t have been the first time. And I wasn’t going back there.
So I had to say yes.
I took one look in Cole’s direction. His chest rose and fell rapidly as if he couldn’t control his breathing. My heart ached at the sadness in his eyes, written all over his face.
I felt the same pain.
I turned away from Cole, unable to look at him when I said the word that burned my tongue. “Yes.”
Rhys slipped the ring on my finger, a victorious grin in place. He rose from the floor and collected me in his strong embrace. I didn’t pull away because I needed him to hold me up.
“You’re mine now, Grace.” Rhys’s lips brushed my cheek. “Forget about Cole Marshall. You’ll never see him again after the wedding.”
ChapterThirty-Four
COLE
Grace was engaged. To Rhys fucking Vanderbilt, of all people.
After the applause died down from the announcement, I stormed out of the ballroom. Hunter called out to me, trailing behind. I didn’t wait for him to catch up and ignored everyone I passed.
The room was too small.
Too crowded.
I needed air.
Exiting the ballroom, I headed straight to the game room. Fuck Fitzy and The Founders Society.
Maybe it was karma.
Grace and I had one night together. One perfect night I would remember forever. I tried to do right by her and let her go. I could have had Grace but pushed her away, all because of the stupid rules.
