Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84635 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
“If it helps, I think he’s in love with you, too.”
She shrugged. “Of course, he’s in love with me. I’m a delight.”
Pierce approached. He placed a palm on my lower back. I hated how much I liked it. “We need to start.”
“Okay.”
Greyson wrapped his arm around Hailey’s waist and led her away. She looked over her shoulder at me and mouthed, “it will be fine.”
Pierce smoothed his hand up and down my back. “You’re going to stay here, and I will greet the guests and make the announcement that it is a wedding.”
My stomach clenched. “Okay.”
“Madison, I need you to focus.”
My palms were sweaty. “I am. I’m focused.”
“What did I just say?”
“I don’t know.”
He cupped my face and stood before me. “Skylar doesn’t mean anything to me.”
“I hope not. She did try to kill you.”
“Long before that, but it certainly didn’t help. I want you. I choose you.”
I smirked. “That would be super romantic if your reasons for choosing me weren’t filled with revenge and your framing me for murder.”
“We don’t have the best meet cute, I agree, but I plan to make it up to you.”
“How?”
“I imagine a great deal of sex and jewelry will be involved.”
I lowered my head and stared at his tuxedo bowtie. “You know I don’t care about jewelry.”
“I know. That’s why I love you.”
My gaze snapped up to his. “What did you just say?”
He slipped his hands into my hair and tilted my head back. His lips skimmed mine. “You heard me.”
I breathed in his air. “You love me?”
“Yes.”
“That’s not possible.”
“I assure you it is.”
“We’ve only just met.”
His lips ran along my jaw. “Technically I’ve known you for weeks.”
“You know what I mean.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I do.”
My heart stopped. “This wedding isn’t a sham, is it?”
He slowly shook his head.
“You really intend to marry me tonight.”
He slowly nodded.
“This is all real?”
He kissed my forehead. “Stay here out of sight. When you hear me call your name, it’ll be the time to make your grand entrance down the stairs into the ballroom.”
I clung to the lapels of his tuxedo for a moment before smoothing the silk. “Okay.”
He gave me a long look before stepping back and taking the carved wood staircase from the mezzanine down into the ballroom.
Pierce stood on the stage and took the microphone handed to him. “Good evening…”
I backed away.
One step.
Two.
Then I ran.
I wasn’t sure where I was going…I just needed some air. I needed to breathe. I needed space. I ran through the corridors away from the guests. I found myself running back toward the closed East Wing, away from the people and the noise.
As I entered the hall, I rested a hand against my side and took a deep breath.
“Hello, Madison.”
With a hand to my heart I let out a startled cry and turned to see Jameson lurking in the shadows.
CHAPTER 61
MADISON
The present
The butt of the gun rammed into my shoulder as it kicked, and the shot went wide.
I still hit him though.
Jameson swore as he reeled back, his hand clenching his shoulder. Blood spread across his white shirt. Then he came at me again.
It was just a graze.
I held the gun up, ready to fire again, when he grabbed the barrel and ripped it from my grasp, throwing it aside and seizing my face with his bloody hand, smearing blood over my neck and the beautiful wedding dress.
“You think you really get to shoot me, bitch? I am Jameson Motherfucking Worthington, and you are nothing!”
My back was pressed against the desk.
“Please,” I whimpered. “I did nothing to you. I will leave. You will never see me again.”
“Too late. You ruined everything.”
His breathing was erratic. Every flash of lightning outside the window gave me terrifying glimpses of his face twisted in rage as he screamed at me.
“Please,” he mocked, then laughed, grabbing my neck. “God, I am going to enjoy this. I’m going to fuck you like the whore you are and throw your broken corpse off the cliff. You wouldn’t be the first hopeful Mrs. Worthington to mysteriously die on the cliffs hours before she’s supposed to say her vows. I doubt you’ll be the last.”
Something in his words broke through my fear.
He wasn’t terrifying. He was pathetic.
“Your brother’s going to kill you. He is going to kill you for touching me, for trying to steal his money, and for trying to be him.” I laughed, letting the hysteria creep into my voice. “Did you really think you could pass as Pierce just because you are twins? You are nothing like him.”
“Bitch.” He backhanded me hard enough that I fell to the floor and blood filled my mouth as I laughed harder.
Jameson grabbed my hair, yanking me up onto the desk and pushing me face down, making sure the edge pressed into my ribs hard enough that I couldn’t breathe.