So, the four years I thought were filled with genuine love were nothing but a lie?
To Evelyn Carter, had I been nothing more than a pretty, obedient boy toy?
How ridiculous.
I nodded slowly. If that was how it was, then fine.
My chest ached, but I could let her go. I came here to try and fight for her one last time. If I couldn’t win her back, then I would set her free.
I looked at Evelyn with a pained smile. “Alright then. I wish you happiness.”
Turning, I started to leave the stage.
But Evelyn’s hands clenched, her eyes darting away from mine as if she couldn’t bear to meet them.
Before I could step off, Marco Ramirez planted himself on my path, smirking.
“Since you’ve already come this far, you might as well stay. Otherwise, you’re disrespecting me, the Ramirez family, and the entire city of Charleston!”
“So arrogant?”
I laughed under my breath.
I’d heard that tone countless times before. In New York’s elite circles, it was inevitable that some desperate upstarts tried to puff themselves up. I’d crushed enough of them over the years that no one dared talk to me like this anymore.
Marco didn’t hear the contempt in my voice. He clapped his hands.
Immediately, a group of men in black suits filed in, surrounding the stage.
“Kid, if I’m unhappy today, you won’t leave this place alive.”
“Get out of here, Nicholas! I don’t want to see you again!” Evelyn snapped, her voice sharp.
“Did I ask you to speak?” Marco snarled, glaring at her. “Do you think I’m blind? Can’t you see you’re still protecting this guy?”
Protecting me?
I caught her gaze for a moment. Worry flickered in her eyes.
Could she really have been lying just now?
Evelyn shook her head quickly. “I just don’t want to be connected to my past anymore. Besides, today is our engagement—why should my ex-boyfriend have any part in it? And if people talk about it afterward, wouldn’t you lose face?”
Her tone softened, almost coaxing. “Marco, I’m thinking of you.”
Marco’s expression loosened, but arrogance still dripped from his voice. “I’m not afraid of losing face. In Charleston, I’m the king!”
He jabbed a finger at me. “Sit down there and watch the ceremony!”
I gave Evelyn a faint, crooked smile and walked down from the stage.
But no sooner had I stepped off than four bodyguards shoved me into a corner seat, boxing me in.
Marco leaned forward smugly. “You’re not leaving until I say you can.”
I chuckled. “If you don’t let me go now, you won’t be able to get rid of me later.”
“Shut up!” Evelyn barked.
I only smiled faintly and said nothing. If they wanted to play this game, they couldn’t blame me for how it ended.
Marco’s voice boomed again. “I hear you’re from New York? Perfect. Some of the capital’s top young elites are coming later. I’ll introduce you to them, let you see what real power looks like.”
“Thanks in advance,” I replied lightly, unable to suppress another grin.
Just then, a group of people swept into the hall.
Young men and women, dressed impeccably, carried themselves with calm arrogance.
At their head was a man barely into his twenties, yet he radiated authority that stilled the room.
“Zane, you’re finally here,” Marco beamed, stepping forward eagerly, hand outstretched. “My engagement party wouldn’t be complete without you.”
But the young man—Zane Mitchell—ignored his hand completely. He didn’t even glance at Marco. Instead, his eyes locked directly onto Evelyn.
“You’re Evelyn Carter?” he asked.
She blinked, startled, before nodding.
Zane’s expression softened into a faint smile. “He hid you well. Otherwise, we’d have crossed paths much earlier.”
Marco assumed Zane meant him and frowned in confusion. But he quickly masked it and gestured grandly to the crowd.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is Zane Mitchell, heir of the Mitchell family of New York—the Crown Prince of the capital itself. The Mitchells are the strongest backers of my Ramirez family here in Charleston!”
