Chapter 1 · Fractured Vows, Royal Redemption

The day I went to Gideon Cross's apartment to retrieve my design drafts, the rain was pouring down.

I didn't even bother to fold my umbrella before stepping inside. After punching in the code and walking in, I immediately noticed a pair of pink stilettos sitting in the entryway.

They were the latest Chanel release, but definitely not my size.

Before I could react, the master bedroom door clicked open.

Gideon stood there, wrapped in nothing but a towel, his hair dripping and water tracing down his sculpted abs.

He spotted me, raised an eyebrow, and leaned against the doorframe with a mocking smirk, completely unfazed.

"Are you for real, Seraphina?" he scoffed.

"It's only been two weeks since we broke up, and you're already finding reasons to come see me?" he sneered.

Behind him, a delicate, fair-skinned arm wrapped around his waist like a vine. Then, a girl wearing my silk slip peeked out.

That was my slip. I hadn't even taken the tag off yet—I bought it to celebrate us winning the design contest.

Now, it draped over her, loose and careless, but somehow made her look even more alluring.

The girl blinked her big, innocent eyes, her voice so soft it could melt butter. "Gideon, is this the ex-girlfriend you said kept pestering you?"

*****

I stood there, my umbrella still dripping, spreading a dark puddle across the floor. In that instant, all I could feel was revulsion.

My gut twisted with nausea.

I shot Gideon a frosty glare. "So, after two weeks of giving me the silent treatment, you didn't waste any time—brought someone home, let her wear my clothes, just like that?"

Gideon shrugged, grabbed a pair of men's slippers from the cabinet, and kicked them toward me. "Don't be dramatic. Delilah's clothes got soaked, so she borrowed yours. What's the problem? Since when did you get so stingy?"

The way he said it, so matter-of-fact, felt like a slap right across my face.

"About moving on..." Gideon chuckled, wrapping his arm around Delilah. "Delilah and I are the real deal. But you, Seraphina—weren't you the one who claimed you couldn't survive without me? Now look at you, showing up here desperate to patch things up."

Delilah snuggled into Gideon's arms, peeking at me with those big, timid eyes. "Seraphina, please don't misunderstand. Gideon said you can be a bit fiery. If you're bothered, I can just take off the slip and give it back to you right now..."

She pretended to tug at the strap, making it look like she was about to undress.

Gideon clamped down on her hand, his face darkening as he shot me a look of pure disgust. "Seraphina, seriously? Can't you respect some boundaries? Making her strip in front of you. Are you messed up in the head or something?"

I couldn't help but laugh—so pissed off I actually found it funny.

Seriously. After three years with Gideon, how had I never noticed that his way of thinking was completely messed up?

I took a deep breath and tossed my umbrella aside.

"Gideon."

I called his name.

He thought I was about to cave, chin held high, looking down at me like he was doing me a favor. "If you want to come back, apologize to Delilah and get your act together. Maybe I'll consider it..."

Smack!

The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the empty living room.

Gideon's head snapped to the side, five bright red fingerprints standing out on his left cheek.

He froze.

Delilah froze, too, clapping a hand over her mouth with a gasp.

I shook out my stinging hand, meeting Gideon's stunned gaze with icy calm. "That slap was for my slip—after it got sullied by you and your new fling.

"And Gideon, did you forget whose name is actually on the lease?"

I pointed at the door. "Take your new fling and get out. Right now."

Gideon laughed, not because he was amused, but because he was so pissed he couldn't help himself.

He pressed his aching cheek, his gaze turning downright menacing.

"Fine, Seraphina. You've got some nerve," he fumed.

He shoved Delilah aside and marched right up to me, looming over me with a sneer. "So what if the lease is yours? Who cares? You think I actually want to stay in this crappy place?"

He turned, pulled out a wad of cash from his wallet, and threw it right in my face.

The bills scattered everywhere, raining down in a mockery of an absurd storm.

"That should cover the rent. The rest—consider it a reward," Gideon sneered.

"Seraphina, don't think I don't know exactly what you're up to. Deleting my contacts, blocking my calls, now kicking me out... You just want me to come crawling back, don't you?" he fumed.

Chapter 1

The day I went to Gideon Cross's apartment to retrieve my design drafts, the rain was pouring down.

I didn't even bother to fold my umbrella before stepping inside. After punching in the code and walking in, I immediately noticed a pair of pink stilettos sitting in the entryway.

They were the latest Chanel release, but definitely not my size.

Before I could react, the master bedroom door clicked open.

Gideon stood there, wrapped in nothing but a towel, his hair dripping and water tracing down his sculpted abs.

He spotted me, raised an eyebrow, and leaned against the doorframe with a mocking smirk, completely unfazed.

"Are you for real, Seraphina?" he scoffed.

"It's only been two weeks since we broke up, and you're already finding reasons to come see me?" he sneered.

Behind him, a delicate, fair-skinned arm wrapped around his waist like a vine. Then, a girl wearing my silk slip peeked out.

That was my slip. I hadn't even taken the tag off yet—I bought it to celebrate us winning the design contest.

Now, it draped over her, loose and careless, but somehow made her look even more alluring.

The girl blinked her big, innocent eyes, her voice so soft it could melt butter. "Gideon, is this the ex-girlfriend you said kept pestering you?"

*****

I stood there, my umbrella still dripping, spreading a dark puddle across the floor. In that instant, all I could feel was revulsion.

My gut twisted with nausea.

I shot Gideon a frosty glare. "So, after two weeks of giving me the silent treatment, you didn't waste any time—brought someone home, let her wear my clothes, just like that?"

The way he said it, so matter-of-fact, felt like a slap right across my face.

She pretended to tug at the strap, making it look like she was about to undress.

I couldn't help but laugh—so pissed off I actually found it funny.

Seriously. After three years with Gideon, how had I never noticed that his way of thinking was completely messed up?

I took a deep breath and tossed my umbrella aside.

"Gideon."

I called his name.

He thought I was about to cave, chin held high, looking down at me like he was doing me a favor. "If you want to come back, apologize to Delilah and get your act together. Maybe I'll consider it..."

Smack!

The crisp sound of the slap echoed through the empty living room.

Gideon's head snapped to the side, five bright red fingerprints standing out on his left cheek.

He froze.

Delilah froze, too, clapping a hand over her mouth with a gasp.

I shook out my stinging hand, meeting Gideon's stunned gaze with icy calm. "That slap was for my slip—after it got sullied by you and your new fling.

"And Gideon, did you forget whose name is actually on the lease?"

I pointed at the door. "Take your new fling and get out. Right now."

Gideon laughed, not because he was amused, but because he was so pissed he couldn't help himself.

He pressed his aching cheek, his gaze turning downright menacing.

"Fine, Seraphina. You've got some nerve," he fumed.

He shoved Delilah aside and marched right up to me, looming over me with a sneer. "So what if the lease is yours? Who cares? You think I actually want to stay in this crappy place?"

He turned, pulled out a wad of cash from his wallet, and threw it right in my face.

The bills scattered everywhere, raining down in a mockery of an absurd storm.

"That should cover the rent. The rest—consider it a reward," Gideon sneered.

"Seraphina, don't think I don't know exactly what you're up to. Deleting my contacts, blocking my calls, now kicking me out... You just want me to come crawling back, don't you?" he fumed.