Page 97 of Resisting the Billionaire

Her lips press together tightly until they’re barely visible, trembling with suppressed rage.

I step closer, towering over her, using the same tactic she just tried to use on Mackenzie. Yeah, I realize I’m acting like a bully, but I couldn’t care less. This is Mackenzie’s reputation potentially on the line.

She finally backs down, whirling in an irritated huff to stalk off down the hallway.

“I’ve never once heard you throw your family’s name around like that,” Mackenzie comments quietly after a moment of tense silence.

“I knew where it was headed. She was going to threaten you. And the whole thing was my fault to begin with.” Not that I regret pretending she was my fiancee for the tour. That’s what led to us first admitting this attraction.

She nods, looking down at her clipboard, dog-earing the corner of the paper clipped to it. “Thank you.”

I stare down at the top of her head, her beautiful curls pinned back off her face in some kind of intricate updo. “You know I’d do anything for you.” Even if that means stepping aside.

What did I expect, though? I knew she had standards from the beginning. From the first night we met, in fact. And a man on the verge of marrying another woman doesn’t exactly meet those standards.

But for me, there’s no chance of ever thinking this marriage to Serena will be real. Not after experiencing what love is actually like. In my heart, Mackenzie’s the one I’ll always be faithful to. Today is nothing but a piece of paper to sign.

“I have to go,” she says, keeping her head down as she strides back into the ballroom, her movements quick and efficient.

But she’s not quick enough. I still spot the splash of a teardrop on her clipboard.

The music swellsas Serena enters the ballroom, hundreds of guests standing to get a better view of the ethereal beauty walking down the aisle, her fair hair braided partly around her crown, the rest left free to fall down her back in waves.

Even I have to admit how angelic she looks in that dress, silver shimmers in the bodice catching the light to make her appear radiant.

But it doesn’t hide the fact that she’s not looking at me, but slightly to my left.

Toward Archer.

I glance over, but there’s nothing other than polite interest on his face, the same as most everyone else watching her.

When my bride reaches my side, Mackenzie collects Serena’s bouquet, then returns to her spot far behind her along the edge of the wall, out of the spotlight, head cast down solemnly.

The minister begins his monologue, but I barely hear any of it, focused solely on the way Mackenzie’s knuckles tighten on the flowers in her hand till they’re white, the blood drained out of them. The way her lips pinch together, gaze directed at the floor, as if she can’t stand to witness what’s occurring just across the room.

Everything in me screams to go over there and comfort her, take her in my arms and assure her it’ll be okay, that none of this is really happening.

Except it is.

My eyes cut to Serena directly in front of me, her breaths shallow, swallowing repeatedly as if she’s forcing herself to make it through the next five minutes.

What are we committing ourselves to here? A lifetime of misery? An endless stretch of years wishing we’d never gone through with this?

A nudge on my back has me startling, looking over to find Archer leaning his head toward the minister. Did I miss something?

“We shall now say your vows,” the man says, in a tone that implies he’s repeating himself. Oh, guess I should pay attention.

I glance out into the crowd for just a moment, Dad’s icy blue eyes meeting mine, arms crossed over his chest, like he’s waiting for me to mess up. Next to him, Connor gives me an almost smile, putting on a brave face for me.

We’d talked a long time last night after I went back up to the restaurant following Mackenzie’s rejection. Archer had already left, but like always, Connor was there when I needed him. I admitted to him I had fallen in love with another woman, though I didn’t tell him who it was, and he listened as I ranted about the unfairness of it all, empathized with me despite it having nothing to do with him. I’m the one who got myself into this mess.

Nausea rises within me as the minister opens his mouth once more. “Do you, Gabriel, take Serena to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward?”

“I…” I swallow painfully, trying to get past the blockage in my throat. Serena’s fingers clutch at the sides of her dress, nearly tearing the delicate fabric.

“I…” I look beyond her to Mackenzie, who’s finally gazing back at me, unshed tears in her eyes, biting her lip hard, like she’s about to lose it.

Hope surges in my chest.

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