"What happened to you?"
He slipped off his suit jacket and moved to drape it over my shoulders.
That same hollow tenderness in his voice.
"Gabriella, you're just too stubborn. If you'd simply do as you're told, why would I ever let you suffer like this?"
My stomach turned. I shifted away, dodging his touch.
The jacket fell to the ground.
Dominic's expression darkened, his eyes turning vicious.
"Gabriella Robinson. My patience has limits."
He seized my chin, forcing my head up.
"Now. Go change into that dress. Immediately."
"When Millicent makes her entrance, you'll be behind her, carrying her train."
"And if you dare ruin this..."
A cold smirk crossed his face. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a jade bracelet.
My grandmother's jade bracelet. The only thing she'd left me before she passed.
"Dominic! Give it back!" I lunged for it, desperate.
He raised his right hand high, his gaze merciless.
"Carry her train, and I'll give it back."
"Otherwise, I'll smash it right now."
My grandmother had slipped that bracelet onto my wrist on her deathbed. It was the last thing I had left of anyone in this world.
Dominic's fingers tightened around it. One slip, and the jade would shatter against the floor.
"I'll count to three."
He stared down at me.
"Three."
"Two."
My whole body trembled. My nails dug into my palms until I felt the sting of blood.
"One."
"I'll change!"
The words scraped out of my throat. My eyes burned.
Dominic smiled, satisfied.
He pocketed the bracelet and patted my cheek.
"Good girl. Go on. Millicent's about to make her entrance."
I took the mud-stained bridesmaid dress and walked into the restroom.
The woman staring back at me in the mirror looked wrecked. But her eyes were ice.
Five years. For five years, I'd hidden my identity as the founder of a venture capital firm to protect his ego.
I'd stayed home willingly. Played the woman behind the man.
I thought I'd fallen in love with someone ambitious.
Turns out, I'd just been feeding a selfish animal.
Dominic Kessler. Every ounce of humiliation you've heaped on me today.
Tomorrow, I'll make you repay it with the entire Kessler empire.
I didn't put on the bridesmaid dress.
I threw it straight into the trash.
I pushed open the restroom door and walked toward the red carpet staging area.
Millicent was on Dominic's arm, ready to step onto the carpet.
The moment he saw me walk out in my soaking wet clothes, his face went black.
"Gabriella Robinson! Did everything I said go in one ear and out the other?!"
His voice was a low snarl.
Millicent put on her wounded look. "Gabriella, how could you do this? Without someone carrying my train, this gown won't have nearly the same effect."
I looked at them both. Cold. Silent.
Up ahead, camera flashes were already firing. The host was calling Millicent's name over the speakers.
I ignored Dominic and turned toward the exit.
"Stop her!"
He didn't care about the scene anymore. He gave the order outright.
The two bodyguards rushed me. A boot slammed into the back of my knee.
I wasn't ready for it. My legs buckled and I crashed to the hard ground.
White-hot pain shot through my kneecaps.
Nearby crew members and reporters turned to stare. Someone raised a camera.
Dominic strode over, towering above me, his eyes devoid of anything human.
In front of everyone, he pointed his finger directly at my face.
"My apologies, ladies and gentlemen of the press."
