Chapter 3

Last night's confrontation ended with my complete defeat. Ronald left with my passport. I stayed awake all night, thinking about possible escapes, but every thought seemed pale against the web he'd woven around me.

So when the phone rang at nine in the morning, I wasn't surprised at all.

"Ms. Reed? This is Jonathan Blake, Mr. Ashworth's assistant. Mr. Ashworth requests your presence at his law office this morning to sign some confidentiality agreements."

What the fuck was Ronald up to now?

When the elevator doors opened at Ronald's law firm, I walked into chaos. Camera flashes. Reporters. Microphones.

Through the crowd, I spotted Ronald behind a podium. Beside him stood the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen—tall, elegant, with honey-blonde hair and the kind of effortless grace that screamed old money.

Cordelia Whitmore. Senator's daughter. Perfect Upper East Side princess.

Ronald's eyes found mine, and his smile was absolutely predatory.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he said into the microphone, never breaking eye contact with me. "I'm pleased to announce my engagement to Ms. Cordelia Whitmore."

'You fucking bastard.'

"There have been rumors about a great love from your past," a reporter called out.

Ronald's hand found Cordelia's waist. "The past is exactly that—past. Cordelia is my future."

I turned to leave, but Jonathan Blake materialized beside me. "Mr. Ashworth would like you to stay for the reception. As his guest."

"I'm leaving."

"I'm afraid that's not possible. Mr. Ashworth has specifically requested your coverage."

The reception was at the Plaza Hotel. Ronald had rented out the entire Oak Room, transforming it into an engagement party fit for royalty.

I sat at a corner table, watching Ronald and Cordelia work the room. They moved like a perfectly choreographed dance, but Ronald's eyes kept finding me. Every laugh he shared with Cordelia, every toast he raised—he was watching my reactions like I was a lab experiment.

"You must be Irene."

Cordelia appeared beside my table with champagne flutes.

"Ms. Whitmore. Congratulations."

"Thank you." She sat across from me. "Ronald has told me so much about you. He says you're the most important person from his past."

"He mentioned you were special to him," Cordelia continued warmly. "I think it's wonderful you're here. Like having family present."

I wanted to hate her. But sitting across from this gracious woman genuinely trying to be kind, I felt only crushing defeat.

"Ronald is passionate about everything he cares about," she said, glancing at him fondly. "Sometimes I think he loves too deeply for his own good."

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Ronald's voice rang out. "If I could have your attention."

The room fell silent. Ronald stood at the front, Cordelia joining him with a radiant smile.

"Six months ago, I met the light of my life," Ronald said, his arm around Cordelia's waist. "Today, in front of all of you, I want to celebrate the woman who changed everything for me."

He turned to Cordelia, his voice carrying across the silent room. "Cordelia, you are my future, my happiness, my everything."

The crowd erupted in warm applause. Ronald leaned down and kissed Cordelia softly, and camera flashes went off like fireworks.

And through it all, Ronald's eyes were on me.

I couldn't breathe. The champagne tasted like acid.

I stood on shaking legs, but Ronald's voice cut through the celebration.

"Irene."

Every head turned. Ronald walked directly toward me, leaving his newly celebrated fiancée behind.

"How do you feel?" he asked quietly.

"What?"

"Watching me celebrate my engagement. How does it feel?"

The room went silent.

"Ronald," I whispered. "What are you doing?"

"I'm asking you a question." His voice carried across the room now. "Does it hurt, Irene? Seeing me with her?"

"Stop it."

"Does your chest feel like it's being ripped apart? Do you want to scream?"

"Ronald!" Cordelia's voice was sharp. "What's happening?"

But Ronald wasn't looking at his fiancée. He was staring at me with terrifying intensity.

"Answer me. Tell me it doesn't hurt to watch me love someone else."

"You're insane."

"Maybe. But I'm done pretending." Ronald turned to address the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, I owe you an apology. This engagement was a lie."

Gasps echoed through the room. Cordelia's face went white.

"Ronald," she whispered. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying I'm sorry, Cordelia. You deserve someone who can love you completely." He took her hand gently. "And I can't. Because my heart belongs to someone else."

He turned back to me, his eyes absolutely feral.

"It has always belonged to someone else."

The room erupted. Reporters shouting. Society matrons gasping. Cordelia standing frozen.

"Six years ago, you left me," Ronald said, walking toward me. "You said you had to go."

"Ronald, stop—"

"I've spent six years trying to move on. But watching you today, seeing the pain in your eyes when I kissed her—now I understand."

He was close enough to touch me now.

"You still love me. That's why you left. Not because you didn't love me. Because you did. Because you do."

I couldn't speak. Because he was right.

Watching him with Cordelia had been agony. Every smile, every touch had felt like someone carving out my heart.

"Say it," Ronald demanded. "Say you love me."

The entire room was watching.

"I—" I started, then stopped.

Because admitting it would change everything. And there were things Ronald didn't know. Things that would destroy him.

"I can't," I whispered.

Ronald's face hardened. "Can't, or won't?"

He turned to address the room one final time.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the engagement is officially off."