Page 145 of Mine to Ruin

Don’t fall into his trap. He’s provoking you. I put a smile on my face and his brows knit together.

“Yes, but we will survive a few gatherings a year.”

“Your parents seemed nice and chatty,” I say and peel a banana.

“That’s because they think they have the upper hand.” His eyes never leave mine as I nibble on it.

“And they don’t?”

“I am ten steps ahead of them.” He gulps, while my teeth graze the banana, and he grips the counter.

“When will you stop?” I ask, while I mouth fuck it, loving every second of how I’m affecting his composure.

“When I win.” He eyes the fruit as if it personally offended him. If his gaze burns hotter, the banana will fry in my hand.

“What about Brandon?”

“It’s time for him to grow up.”

“What does that mean?” I swallow, choking on a bigger bite.

He pins me with a stare and arches a brow. “You had bigger. Are you out of practice?” I glare at him, and he adds, “It’s almost sweet how you worry about your lover boy.”

Not even five damn minutes can we last having a civilized conversation. The future seems bright.

“Pack something. We leave after the wedding.”

“No.”

“Fine by me. Then no honeymoon,” he says and storms away.

The supposedly happiest day of my life has arrived. My mom and my friends help me with my dress. The make-up artist must have the patience of a saint as she has to redo my make up three times. Photos are being taken, smiles are exchanged, but all I think about is I am going to marry him. A dream then, a nightmare now. We take the elevator to the rooftop.

Kian waits for me at the end of the carpet, his eyes taking me in, and he shuts them before I can decipher the myriad of emotions, while I try to keep my smile on. My friends are on the left side, and he is flanked by Kendrick and Jason, while Brandon sits next to his parents and winks at me, and I smile back at him. Maybe, one day, when the pain over my circumstance vanishes and I accept that he, too, is a victim of a play that neither of us wanted to be a part of. I will accept him as a friend once again.

I halt when I am face to face with Kian, his warm hand rubbing mine, and some heat creeps back into my skin. It’s these signs of gentleness, of caring, that confuse and forever trap me in the circle of not being able to escape this mad love. He repeats the vows and an ‘I do,’ and I follow. When I put the name on the wedding certificate, I can’t ever go back. His lips find mine, a soft breeze, centering me, to the here and now. He takes my hand, and we walk to the ballroom. Hundreds of colorful bouquets adorn the elegant room, candles of various sizes and flower decorations on them.

We share our first dance to a song about a forever love. It’s a lie, everything is a lie.

Chapter 53

Kian

Her beauty is forever engraved on my soul as I gaze at her, but like this, all in white, all mine, something heavy stabs at my chest. A lot of regret, shattered dreams, and that pulsing madness and obsessive love. I wish things would have been different. Her father spins her around the dance floor, then Brandon dances with her, and jealousy dots my vision.

“Look at them. Only you could think there is something going on between them.”

“Kendrick, stop.”

“You will lose her if you haven’t already because of your stubbornness.”

I rush to her, and take her from my brother, and she rests her head on my chest. When the cake is served, the guests spread around the room, and Brandon takes the seat next to me.

“I thought I would be your best man, or at least one of them.”

“You would have been.”

“I am sorry,” he says, voice choked with remorse.

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