Page 21 of Misconducts & Temptation

"Let's do something bad, babes," I interrupted, leaning forward until my breath ghosted over her skin. The idea had sparked like a match in the dark recesses of my mind. I didn't think it through, didn't need to. It felt liberating to act without calculation for once.

Her eyes widened as she processed my words. "What are you talking about?"

"Let me pay off the debt," I said, the words spilling out before I could second-guess myself. "Marry me instead."

She froze, the shock evident on her face. Her lips parted as if to protest, but no sound came out. I watched as the wheels turned in her head; the disbelief mixing with a flicker of hope.

"Why would you—?" she started, but I cut her off again.

"Because it's better than marrying Lola," I said, a grim smile tugging at my lips. "And because I'm sure I'm better than whoever you're supposed to marry, or you wouldn't be here alone."

She blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of my sudden proposition. "You don't even know me."

"True," I admitted, taking a step closer and lifting her chin so she had no choice but to look at me. "But I've got a feeling you might be worth getting to know."

She swallowed hard, her eyes searching mine for any sign of deception. When she found none, she seemed to relax slightly.

"This is insane," she whispered.

"Maybe," I agreed, leaning in until our foreheads touched again. "But sometimes insanity is the only way out. Didn't you say that?"

"I definitely did not." She closed her eyes briefly as if trying to gather her thoughts. When she opened them again, there was a determination in their depths that hadn't been there before. "And what about your father?" she asked quietly.

"I'll deal with him," I replied firmly. "Right now, I'm more interested in dealing with your family and that damn debt."

For the first time since we started this conversation, she let out a soft laugh—a sound so genuine and unexpected that it sent a jolt through me.

"This is really happening," she murmured, more to herself than to me.

"Yes," I said softly but with conviction. "It is. Marry me, babes. What do you say?"

Chapter 7

Elodie

My alarm blared from my phone, jolting me back to reality. My Uber had arrived, and if I didn’t leave now, I’d be stranded.

“I have to go,” I said, pulling away from Keaton.

“What?” He looked at me, his expression caught between confusion and something deeper. His eyes lingered on my lips, which still tingled from his kiss.

“I’m sorry,” I repeated, stepping back. My stomach growled, but the food on the table was the last thing on my mind.

“A name,” he demanded, his hand grabbing my arm again. “Give me a name.”

I hesitated, heart pounding in my chest. Just as I was about to speak, the door swung open. Lola stood there, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene.

"There you are," she snapped at Keaton, moving towards him.

I tried to dodge her in order to reach the door.

“Watch it,” Lola snapped as I bumped into her while trying to leave.

But I barely registered her words. My feet carried me forward, past her icy presence and out of the room. My freedom was waiting outside in the form of an Uber, and I wasn’t going to miss it for anything.

My mask slipped from my fingers and clattered to the floor, but I didn’t have time to retrieve it. I stepped out of the room and into the throng of partygoers, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on me.

My eyes darted around, searching for a path through the crowd. I nearly collided with my stepsisters, Stephanie and Annabelle, who were giggling about something undoubtedly trivial.

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