Wreck Me (Corrupt Legacy Series #2)

The butler opens the door with a solemn nod. That should have been my first warning sign. In this house, Thomas is the only one whose facial muscles know how to pull off a smile.

Kaden puts his hand on my back, reassuring me, but the flurry of jitters is uncontrollable. It’s just a Friday dinner with Grandmother, nothing else.

“My dears,” Grandmother greets us.

I curtsy, and we all pay respect to the matriarch by kissing her hand before we take our seats. My gaze sweeps to Celine. If by protecting the ones you love, you hurt them even worse, I doubt it’s worth it in the end. We are all in tatters, some more than others.

My thoughts conjure images of Dane. My chest cracks with guilt, filling with longing, but when you have lived through what I have, not even the love of your life can make you change your mind. But my weak heart, starved for his love and attention, is not on board with my plan of staying away. I wish to tell him just to see if we could heal together, but my hopes are fickle and tenuous.

Grandmother fixes her gaze on me, and Kaden squeezes my thigh to pay attention. My thoughts still run free while I try to catch them.

As I look at Kaden and Celine, both looking lost, I wonder if there are some things you can’t overcome. Both Kaden and I made decisions that affected our loved ones. By protecting them, we hurt them worse. Yes, we sacrificed ourselves for their freedom and lives. But by doing that, we gave them reasons to hate us. Were we in the right, though, making the decisions for them in the first place? Kaden and I didn’t know better then; we don’t know better now.

Grandmother arranges her pearl necklace. “We should announce your engagement,” she says, looking straight at Kaden and me.

Breathe, Abigail. Just keep breathing.

“We can’t wait. We’re ready to make our relationship official.” I force the words to sound cheerful. Kaden and I exchange a quick glance.

He leans in to kiss me on the cheek. “We have waited long enough as it is.”

“Kaden.” I pretend to shove his hand away as if he touched me inappropriately.

“I can’t control myself. I apologize, Grandmother,” he says.

It’s a wonder none of us start throwing up. But Grandmother looks pleased. Crisis averted.

I can’t look at Celine right now, but I hope she masks her feelings. I hope this night ends so I can fall apart in peace. But for now, I have to act.

“Celine, you’re going to stay the weekend at the estate,” Grandmother tells her.

“Of course, and tomorrow you can meet Hunter at the gala.”

My hopes are butchered the next moment. I forgot about the damn charity gala. Kaden sends me an intent look. I dig my nails into his thigh just to make my point clear, but he doesn’t budge—the things I do for my best friend.

If we stay here, the chances of seeing Dane are slim.

“Can we stay the weekend here as well? I would like to talk to you more about our engagement.” Saying that saccharine bullshit might give me cavities. The stress of tonight surely will cause me an ulcer.

“Of course,” Grandmother says.

Kaden kisses my temple, thanking me as I sip from a glass of wine, and I whisper, “Your love for her will be our downfall.” But it falls on deaf ears. I am the same so I can’t even fault him.

Engagement.

I’m pulled from my depressing thoughts when Grandmother shifts her attention to Celine, and the tension chokes the air from the room. “Tell me.”

Here it comes, the confirmation that Grandmother asked her to be her eyes. It seems that’s all we have been doing since she returned, study the other, giving each other ammunition, yet none of us has used it against the other. I hold in a breath as Celine looks from each of us back to Grandmother with an innocent expression. She’s pretending so well, I’m proud of her.

“Bailey is the most level-headed among them. Blake has potential, but his reckless behavior puts a strain on that. Abigail is your copy. You should be proud. Together with Kaden, they will bring this family to new heights.”

Yes, whatever. I am so over this bullshit, and this family, and this legacy.

“But his arrogance is a problem,” Celine adds. Her tone is not harsh, yet anger and hurt battle in her eyes. Then she blinks, and it’s gone.

Oh, Celine, we love arrogant guys—another thing we have in common. I wish I could hug her, and we could gossip and giggle about our men—a fantasy.

“Why did you say that about Bailey?”