Page 181 of Filthy Rich Santas

I stand frozen in shock as my parents swoop in, their faces alight with excitement.

“Wade!” Mom exclaims, air-kissing his cheeks. “What a wonderful surprise!”

Dad claps him on the back, beaming. “We didn’t think you’d make it this year, son.”

Wade flashes that perfect smile again, the one that used to make my heart race but now just makes my skin crawl. “I wasn’t sure I could, to be honest. But I hated the thought of Lana being here alone.”

He searches the room, and when his eyes land on me, they gleam with something I can’t quite read as his smile widens.

“I moved some meetings around, caught a last-minute flight,” he tells my parents. “I couldn’t miss your annual Christmas party, could I?”

My parents are practically glowing with approval, and I feel my cheeks burning with a mix of embarrassment, anger, and shock.

“Lana,” my mother calls out, looking around until she finds me and then gesturing me over excitedly. “Look who’s here!”

I don’t move. I’m completely frozen. But Wade doesn’t seem to have that problem, and when he crosses the room and takes my hands, I’m too stunned to react.

What does he think he’s doing? How dare he show up here, acting like nothing has changed? And why on earth is he lying to my parents and making it sound like we’re still together?

Before I can voice any of these thoughts or yank my hands away from him, Wade tugs me closer, a smug glint in his eyes.

Then he kisses me.

42

LANA

My mind reels with shock,and I push Wade away from me with a gasp, my hand flying to my lips.

At least, I try to push him away. His smile never wavers, and he keeps a tight grip on my arm that locks me in next to his side.

“What are youdoing?” I hiss quietly, barely able to comprehend the reality of his presence at my parents’ Christmas party.

Instead of answering me, Wade turns toward the room at large, his voice cutting through the din of the party.

“Everyone, if I could have your attention please!” He flashes the million-dollar smile that used to make my heart flutter, but now it just makes my stomach churn. “For those of you who don’t know, I’m Wade Bradshaw, and Lana just asked me what I’m doing here.”

Friendly chuckles surround us. He’s playing to the crowd, knowing damn well that just about everyone here thinks he’s my still boyfriend—although none of them have any idea that he proposed to me and then dumped me.

“Lana has been more than understanding about my work obligations,” he goes on. “But I couldn’t bear to miss this party, because we have a big announcement to make, and I can’t think of a better time or place to share our good news.”

Ice spreads through my veins as I stare up at him in shock. We did have a plan to make an announcement together at this party, but that was before he dumped me. So there’s no way he?—

“Lana and I are engaged!” he announces exuberantly, snatching a glass of champagne from a nearby waiter and lifting it high.

Someone tries to shove another one into my hand as the room erupts in cheers and congratulations, but I’m frozen in place and it almost drops to the floor.

I don’t even notice if the waiter saves it or not over the heavy thumping of my heartbeat. Adrenaline surges through me, but I still can’t move. I feel like I’ve been dropped into an alternate reality as my parents rush forward, my mother’s eyes brimming with tears.

“Oh, sweetheart! This is wonderful news!”

“I couldn’t be happier, son,” my father adds, clapping Wade on the back. “We’ve been hoping for this day.”

My parents’ joy is like a splash of ice water, but instead of freezing me in place this time, it finally snaps me out of my stupor.

“What are you doing?” I repeat to Wade, louder this time.

He wraps an arm around me, pulling me close against his side. His smile never drops as he leans in, speaking low enough that only I can hear.

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