Chapter 4

Even if we were only married for a day, there should still be some kind of bond left. The way he's acting now is just outrageous. He's really gone too far.

That night, I disguised herself as a man and slipped out under the cover of darkness. As soon as I reached the Cloud Pavilion, I spotted Cohen and Caleb locked in a heated argument just outside, with a few others watching the scene unfold.

Caleb was completely wasted, staggering around and making a scene, refusing to back down as he kept hounding Cohen.

"Cohen, are you screwing with me? You just toss me some random pouch and claim it's a token from Miss Grimes? There are pouches everywhere on the street. Does that mean every girl out there is some noble lady?" Caleb slurred, his words barely making sense.

Cohen arched an eyebrow, shooting him a frosty glare. "Yeah, I'm messing with you. So what? What are you gonna do about it?"

Caleb's face twisted with rage, turning an ugly shade of green.

"Cohen, just because you've got some military glory doesn't mean you can look down on everyone. I'm still the Dean, you know! Do you really think the Dean's house is just for decoration?" Caleb shouted.

Caleb was getting more and more worked up, but his friends quickly rushed over to hold him back.

"Caleb, just let it go. You can't outtalk him, and you sure as hell can't outfight him..." one of them said, trying to calm him down.

Caleb instantly deflated, shooting Cohen a death glare, clearly unwilling as his friends dragged him away.

Cohen's expression was cold, impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Once the crowd lost interest and drifted away, he slowly turned and made his way out.

I hurried after him.

Cohen picked up speed and ducked into a quiet, out-of-the-way alley. By the time I caught up, he was gone in a flash.

She rushed after him, but when she turned the corner, the alley was completely deserted.

Wait, where did he go?

"Looking for me?"

Out of nowhere, Cohen's voice sounded right behind me.

I stiffened and whipped around.

Cohen was standing just a step away, lips curled in a slight smirk, but his eyes were icy and indifferent.

"Miss Grimes, I really never thought you had it in you," Cohen said.

"Fine, whatever. I suddenly feel like giving you an even grander gift," he added, his voice cool and taunting.

Seeing how calm and unfazed he was, I felt rage boiling inside her.

"Guess I was the one who misjudged you, Cohen. You can just give away your own woman and kid without a second thought. Gotta say, that takes guts," I shot back.

Cohen paused, then gave a short, mocking laugh.

"She's just my enemy's daughter. It means nothing to me. As for that kid you're carrying, I don't see it as one of the Haleys. If I refuse to acknowledge it, what can you possibly do?" he said.

"You've got no one to rely on in the Grimes family, and you're pregnant with a child whose father no one knows. Instead of chasing after me, maybe you should worry about what kind of trouble you'll be in if this ever gets out," he added.

I snapped, "Cohen, if you've got a score to settle, go after Reece. Why are you making me pay for it?"

Cohen sneered, "It's not my fault you were born into the Grimes family, or that you ended up as his daughter. That's just the way things are."

In the dim night, Cohen's expression was hard to read.

"Trust me, I know how grudges work. You really think I need you to get at Reece? Don't flatter yourself," he said, his voice thick with contempt.

"Emmalyn, you're just something I mess with when I'm bored. Nothing more," he added.

"Reece cares so much about his precious reputation, right? I just wonder. If the mighty Grimes family had a daughter who hooked up with some guy behind everyone's back, how would he even dare show up in court?" Cohen sneered.

I stumbled back two steps, my eyes locked onto Cohen, disbelief and pain written all over my face.

"Cohen, was everything between us nothing but your amusement? Did you go to all that trouble just to disgrace my family and humiliate Reece?" I demanded.

"Was it all a lie? Did you never... love me?" I whispered.

Cohen's eyes were icy cold, and his lips parted with ruthless indifference as he spoke.

"No," he replied.

Five days later, Malakai Molina, the Grand Marshal's son, had someone deliver a marriage proposal to for me.

Of course, no one in the Grimes family bothered to ask for my opinion.

Besides, Malakai was part of the Imperial Guard, and Reece was all too happy to cozy up to him.

By the time I heard about it, the engagement was already set in stone.

I was wracking my brain, trying to figure out how to wreck this engagement.

Maybe I should just go talk to Malakai myself?

By autumn, the Emperor led his entourage on a grand hunt at the royal preserve, with Malakai personally overseeing his safety as commander of the Imperial Guard.

This was the only chance I'd ever have to approach Malakai.

After disguising ourselves, Kylie and I went our separate ways, slipping into the royal hunting grounds from different directions.

As I walked along the path, my mind was racing with ideas.

I didn't even know what Malakai looked like. How was I supposed to track him down and talk him into breaking off the engagement?

Should I just claim I'm all about spiritual enlightenment now and planning to stay single all my life?

Or maybe I should just throw caution to the wind and say my heart already belongs to someone else, and I won't marry anyone except the one I love.

He wouldn't really try to force me into this, would he?

Up ahead in the woods, after a series of soft, rustling sounds, two figures stepped out into view.

As I looked closer, what a coincidence. Wasn't that Cohen?

Standing next to him was a man, tall and commanding, clad in the armor of the Imperial Guard.

The two of them spoke in hushed tones, their conversation too quiet for me to catch.

From the way they interacted, it was obvious there was more between them than just a casual acquaintance.

I made sure to keep my distance. Cohen's hearing was freakishly sharp, almost supernatural.