Page 22 of The Broken Vows

I put my cards down on the table and lean back in my seat, annoyed. “There’s nothing going on between me and her. She hated me in high school, and that hasn’t changed. End of story.”

They all stare at me, each of their expressions thoughtful. “Huh,” Ares says. “You actually have it bad for her.”

Luca purses his lips and nods. “I knew the moment I saw you dance with her. You look at her the way Sierra looks at Grandma’s cookies.”

I roll my eyes and pull another card, unsure how to change the subject. I’m tired and discouraged today — I don’t have the energy to entertain them.

“Speaking of Grandma,” Dion says, his tone careful. “You know she’ll never allow this, right? None of us have a choice in who we’ll end up with. We’ll all be in arranged marriages, Zane. Isn’t it better to just let go of this fixation on her while you still can?”

I sigh and curl my tongue around my peppermint candy, feeling even more restless now than before. “Celeste’s family are hoteliers too,” I reply, voicing my deepest, most hidden thoughts for the first time. “It isn’t impossible. If they were open to a merger, it could work.”

“Fuck,” Xavier says. “You’re thinking ofmarryingthe girl? What the fuck? Does she even like you?”

She liked me just fine when I kissed her in my observatory, twice. Didn’t seem to hate the way I kissed her against the wall either.

Lex shakes his head and gets up to pour me a whiskey, neat. I knock it back instantly, already tired of my brothers’ shit.

“Zane,” Ares says, his tone cautious. “Had it been anyone else, it might’ve been okay, but it can never be her. Grandma would never allow you to be with a Harrison — not after everything they’ve put us through. For years now, Celeste’s grandfather has been poaching our staff, sabotaging deals, and just outright slandering Grandma left and right. Had it been anyone else equally suitable, she might have been inclined to hear you out, but Celeste? The only way you’d ever marry her is if you walked away from your inheritance. Knowing that, wouldn’t it be best to just let things be?”

“Perhaps.” It’s true that us being together would be too difficult, too costly. Except my feelings for her aren’t rational — they never have been. She’s like a drug to me. I know I’m better off without her, but I can’t resist her either. I crave Celeste Harrison with every breath, every heartbeat. It’s no longer a matter of choice — she’s in my fucking veins, infecting my heart.

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” I murmur as I draw another two cards. “There’s nothing between us. There never has been.”

My brothers and Xavier look at me like they don’t believe me, and fuck, I’m not even sure I believe it myself.

“There are so many women that are far better for you,” Xavier says carefully. “Maybe all you need to do is give one of them a chance. Hell, if nothing else, you should just try to fuck Celeste out of your system.”

I grimace. Fuck her out of my system? Maybe. I’ve never been with anyone but her, and perhaps that’s why I’m so fucking obsessed with her. One way or another, I need to forget about her. The blank slate I’d hoped for doesn’t exist, and I can’t erase our history.

ChapterSeventeen

Celeste

“This one ticks all your boxes,” Lily says as we walk through the house we’re viewing. “It’s close to your office, has a large garden and a big private driveway, a stunning kitchen, a beautiful pool, and plenty of bedrooms. All this natural light is beautiful too. You barely have to renovate anything at all, maybe just a bit of paint here and there.”

I nod absentmindedly. Out of everything we’ve seen, this is the only one I’ve requested to view twice, yet somehow, I can’t bring myself to be excited about it. All I can think about is the look in Zane’s eyes when he saw me with Clifton. It’s been six weeks, and I haven’t been able to forget about it. The argument we had was a perfect reminder of why us being together is a bad idea, but I still can’t let go, even though this is the perfect opportunity to.

I’ve never seen him look so angry — he’s always had a temper, but despite our feud, it’s never been directed at me like that. He seemed hurt, disappointed in me, and I’m not sure what to make of it. To say that I struggle to trust Zane would be an understatement.

I’ve never been more scared of putting my faith in the wrong person. Zane has always been sly, and I’m terrified that giving in to my feelings will leave me holding the pieces he shattered. He’s come so close to breaking me so many times throughout the years — I’d never survive if I’m the one who hands him everything he needs to destroy me.

“God, this kitchen is just… everything,” Lily says, sighing as she twirls around, the biggest grin on her face. I try my hardest to match her energy, but all I can think about is Zane standing in this kitchen, his broad back to me as I sit on the kitchen island while he cooks, the scenario similar to the one at his house. My heart begins to race at the thought of him looking over his shoulder and smiling at me. I try my hardest to clear my head, but I can’t stop thinking about him for more than a few seconds.

Should I have explained who Clifton was? My instincts told me not to — that telling him anything at all would result in Zane targeting Clifton the way he used to targetme. It’s obvious that Zane wants something from me, and he won’t stand for anyone getting in his way.

What terrifies me most is knowing that I should run from Zane… but I don’t want to. Perhaps I’m a glutton for punishment, but something about Zane enthralls me. Maybe it’s the knowledge that the man who used to torment me now wants me, but I’m worried it’s not that simple.

When I look into his eyes, I see something in them I recognize, something I never noticed before. When he touches me, none of it feels fake. I can’t help but be curious about him, and I can’t help but want to believe he’s changed.

I sigh and reach for my pocket. It isn’t until the taste of menthol hits my senses that I realize what I did. I stare down at the candy packet in disbelief as my body reacts to the memory of Zane pushing this same brand of mint into my mouth. My face heats, and desire rushes through my body, laced with a kind of longing I’ve never experienced before.

I’m hit with regret and a desire to rush to reassure him. Zane Windsor has always been my weakness, and now that we’re adults, that’s more true than ever. He’s the one I’ve always loved to hate, but has there always been an undercurrent of something more to it?

“Celeste.” I snap out of my thoughts to find Lily staring at me, her brows scrunched up in concern. She steps closer and gently brushes my hair out of my face, her expression searching. “This house is literally perfect for you. It looks like we walked right into your vision board, and you aren’t even excited.”

I place my hand on her arm and shake my head. “This house truly is perfect, isn’t it? I think it’s the one, you know?”

She grins and nods. “I think so too.”

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