Page 18 of Misconducts & Temptation

"Don't call me that," she said, her voice steady but eyes flashing with defiance.

I smirked, enjoying the fire in her gaze. "What should I call you then?"

She opened her mouth as if to answer but quickly shut it. The hesitation was intriguing.

"Are you supposed to be here, babes?" I asked, leaning in slightly. Her scent was intoxicating, a mix of something sweet and earthy.

She turned away from me, hiding her face. "I'm not sure what you mean. The invitation said everyone, didn't it?"

"It did," I agreed, stepping closer. She reminded me of a deer—fragile but with an underlying strength. I didn't want to scare her away.

"So, if you don't want to marry her, why be here in the first place?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"You ask as if I have a choice," I muttered, bitterness creeping into my voice.

"Don't you?" she asked softly.

I paused, taking in her question. Her genuine curiosity and lack of pretense were refreshing. It was a stark contrast to the hollow interactions I had with people like Lola and my father.

"No," I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Why not?" she asked, her eyes searching mine for an answer.

"Expectations," I replied, feeling a strange pull to be honest with her. "My father expects me to marry the bitch to secure our family's business interests."

She wrinkled her nose again.

Definitely because of my crassness.

I didn't understand why I was even talking to her about this. Normally, I wouldn't bother sharing anything personal with a stranger, let alone someone who clearly didn't belong at this event. But there was something about her that made me lower my guard slightly.

She frowned, her brow furrowing in thought. "That sounds... awful."

I shrugged, trying to play it off as no big deal. "It's just the way things are. You learn to live with it."

"But you don't have to," she said, her voice firm. "You can choose your own path."

I laughed, the sound harsh and bitter in the quiet room. "You think it's that simple? Just walk away and everything will be fine?"

She held my gaze, unflinching. "Maybe not simple, but possible."

"Possible," I echoed, the word tasting foreign on my tongue.

She took a step closer, her eyes softening. "What's stopping you?"

"Everything," I said, my voice dropping lower. "My father controls everything—my inheritance, my future. If I walk away from this marriage, I lose it all."

Her expression shifted from curiosity to something resembling pity. I hated that look; it made me feel weak.

"Is it worth it?" she asked quietly.

"To him? Yes," I replied, bitterness creeping into my tone. "To me... I don't know."

She bit her lip, contemplating something before speaking again. "You deserve to be happy, Keaton."

Her words hit me harder than they should have. No one had ever said that to me before—at least not with such sincerity.

"Why do you care?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.

---