Wreck Me (Corrupt Legacy Series #2)

I empty my glass and stand up. “Sometimes being dead hurts less, Kaden. There is a fine line.”

I squeeze his shoulder and go to his bedroom, continuing to act.

But sleep doesn’t find me. Giving up the pretense, I hear something from downstairs and walk toward the sound. Kaden is in Felix’s office, taking something from the safe.

“What are you doing?”

He shuts the door and says, “I tried in vain to get access to his fucking safe, but all I had to do was ask him about the family ring so I can ask you to marry me and he told me the combination.”

“We’re doing this, huh?”

“Abi, we can’t afford to raise their suspicions. I’m trying to get us out, but I have to be one hundred percent sure we can pull this off.”

I doubt he can be. I doubt we can escape, but it was that hope that gave me the will to wake up every morning.

He flicks the lid open, revealing the round diamond ring on a diamond white band.

“Celine loves this ring. She always said it was going to be hers.”

“It’s tainted. I would never offer her this piece.”

I approach it. “When?”

“Tomorrow.”

Tomorrow. He hands me the box, and I take it.

The implications drag me down, shackling me to a cruel reality.

***

With tonight’s event looming over my head, I have to get out of here. I go for a long walk, ending up in the rose garden. Roses have always fascinated me. They’re beautiful with their delicate, soft petals, but prickly thorns stick out from the stems. Everything worth having doesn’t come without a struggle.

Time is not in my favor; it has never been on my and Dane’s side. Thinking of him butchers my heart.

I walk down the hill, to my childhood home, passing Celine’s.

I see her staring out the window. Her face scrunches up in that combination of anger and pain I hate seeing on her. I would like to apologize in advance, but she pulls the curtains, shutting the world out.

Inside, I climb the stairs to my old bedroom. The staff cleans this house even though neither I nor my parents are often here. My white and pink bedroom has been unchanged since my childhood. I walk into my walk-in closet, picking up a pale pink spaghetti strap, draped ruched dress with a thigh slit.

I slip on my sandals and take a few diamond bracelets to cover my wrist.

Prim, proper, elegant for the gala. On the inside, there’s an entirely different scenario.

My hair flows down my back, straightened to perfection, and I dab a bit of lipstick and some blush on before putting the ring on my finger. It doesn’t feel right.

I park in front of Grandmother’s mansion but can’t get my feet to carry me out. A tap on my window has me tipping my chin up. Kaden is there, offering me strength. Opening the car door, I loop my arm around his.

Thomas greets us at the front door, letting us in and leading us toward the dining room that has been transformed into a spectacular ballroom. We’re the first of the Family to arrive.

Men and women of various ages wearing black and white uniforms carry trays of hors d’oeuvres and bubbly champagne. In the corner, a band plays classical music. Grandmother steps inside, and we greet her with a curtsy and a kiss on her hand.

“You two look lovely.”

“Thank you,” we both say.

Blake and Bailey appear next, looking spectacular: he in a tailored black tux and she in a fitted strapless green dress with a high slit, her hair styled in big curls flowing down her back. After they pay their respects, they take their places beside us.