Chapter 1
It was my engagement party.
My fiancé, Charles Jennings's so-called girl-bro, Sophie Grant, dumped an entire glass of red wine all over my custom-made white dress.
Sophie had a cigarette dangling from her lips, grinning like some punk.
She said, "Oops, my hand slipped.
"Don't be upset, Lila. Want me to lick it clean for you?"
I stared at her and smiled.
The next second, I executed a flawless fall, landing right in the arms of the man in the corner.
He was Charles's archenemy, Lucas Sterling.
I looked up at him, tears glistening in my eyes, my voice shaky as a leaf caught in the breeze.
I said, "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have upset her."
*****
The wine was cold, snaking down the expensive fabric of my dress and blooming into a glaring red stain on the pure white skirt.
Every eye in the ballroom was on me.
Charles walked over with a frown.
He grabbed Sophie's arm and said, "Sophie, cut it out."
There wasn't a trace of blame in his voice; it sounded more like he was teasing his girlfriend.
Sophie jerked her arm free, blew out a smoke ring that wrapped around her bold, defiant face.
"Feeling protective now, Charles?" she said.
She closed in on me, her heels clicking louder and louder, each step sounding more aggressive.
"What? Is your fiancée made of tissue? One touch and she falls apart?" Sophie said.
Sophie reached out, her fingers tipped in black polish, aiming straight for my face.
I didn't move.
I stared back at her, then smiled.
It was a soft, gracious smile, with a hint of apology.
I said gently, my voice just loud enough for everyone nearby to catch, "It's okay, Sophie.
"It's my fault, I was in your way."
Sophie's hand froze in mid-air.
She clearly hadn't expected that. I might as well have been made of cotton for all the impact she made.
Charles's face darkened. He took my hand and said, "Lila, that's enough. Let's go get you changed."
I nodded, playing the obedient fiancée, my eyes perfectly rimmed with tears.
"Okay," I replied softly.
As I turned, my heel snagged on the carpet's fringe.
I made a swift, almost elegant stumble.
The next thing I knew, I was sent tumbling in a completely unexpected direction.
My goal was the man in the corner, who had been watching the whole drama unfold from start to finish.
He was Charles's arch-nemesis, Lucas.
Lucas probably never expected the drama to land right on him.
He was leaning against a pillar, champagne in hand, looking lazy and detached from it all.
When I stumbled toward him, he instinctively reached out and caught me, steady as a rock.
My nose smacked into his hard chest, and it stung a little.
But I had no time to worry about that.
I tilted my head up, and in just three seconds, forced out two sparkling tears.
They hung on my long lashes, ready to fall but stubbornly staying put.
I grabbed the lapel of his pricey suit, my voice cracking, desperate and vulnerable.
"Sir, I'm so sorry. I didn't do it on purpose," I said.
Then I turned to Charles and Sophie, both of them looking completely floored, and let my voice tremble with just the right amount of tears as I finished my act.
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have upset Sophie. I'm just pathetic," I added.
With that, I buried my face in Lucas's chest, my shoulders shaking as I sobbed.
If there were a gold medal for dramatic victim acting, I'd score a perfect 100 for this flawless performance.
The whole ballroom went dead silent.
Everyone's expressions were priceless.
There was shock, disbelief, a bit of sympathy, but mostly, people were just loving the drama.
Charles's face, which had already looked pretty grim, was now dark as thunder.
Charles stormed over, reaching to pull me out of Lucas's arms.
"Lila, get over here," he shouted.
His voice was seething with barely suppressed fury.
I shrank deeper into Lucas's embrace, as if Charles were some wild beast about to pounce.
"Charles, please don't yell at me. I'm really scared," I replied.
Lucas let out a low chuckle over my head.
One arm stayed wrapped around my waist, while the other gently patted my back, like he was soothing a scared little kitten.
"Mr. Jennings, it's better to be gentle with your fiancée," Lucas said.
His voice was soft, but carried an unmistakable authority.
"After all, if you frighten her, someone will feel sorry for her," he added.
That line stabbed Charles right in the heart, sharp and poisonous.
Sophie's face fell. She shot daggers at Lucas and me, her eyes burning with jealousy and resentment.
She probably thought I had stolen her thunder and used a trick she totally despised.
Thanks to my little stunt, the whole drama hit a whole new level.
I could feel the arm around my waist tighten just a little.
Lucas's chest was warm and solid, and through his thin shirt, I could even hear the steady, powerful beat of his heart.
He lowered his head and whispered in my ear, just loud enough for me alone to hear.
"Impressive acting, Ms. Winters," Lucas said.
My body stiffened for a moment.
Did he see through me?