Chapter 1

When I was six, my dad took a bullet to the chest to save Langston Grant.

Dying, he squeezed my hand and said, "Kaylee, I've finished the job I was born for.

"Now it's your turn. Guard the Grant boy the way I guarded his father. Never let a scratch touch him."

I never forgot.

I made Ethan Grant more important than my own heartbeat.

Kids called me slow. I couldn't even recite a simple nursery rhyme.

But I learned kicks, locks, and throws, and broke every bone that tried to reach him.

From six to eighteen, I walked in front of him like a shield, collecting scars the way other girls collected charms.

The last time they wheeled me into the ER, Ethan cried and whispered, "The minute we're old enough, we get married."

Married meant being together every single day.

His smile was warm.

Of course, I said yes.

At twenty, a beautiful woman told me she was the real bride.

So I promised myself to someone else.

And Ethan wept like the world was ending.

*****

I stared at the photo Melissa Quinn had posted just five minutes ago.

It felt like a hole had been punched right through my chest.

In the photo, Ethan was dressed in a sharp black suit.

The diamond cufflinks on his sleeves seemed to have been made to match Melissa's glittering dress.

He had his arm gently around her waist.

Melissa was smiling, her eyes curved into happy crescents as she rested her head on his shoulder.

They looked just like a royal couple from a TV show.

There were tons of comments under the photo.

[What a perfect couple!]

[When are you guys getting married?]

[With genes like yours, your kids are gonna be drop-dead gorgeous.]

I usually struggled to get through even a single page of a book.

But I could read all these comments just fine.

So what Melissa told me a few days ago was actually true.

She really was the one Ethan was going to marry for real, out in the open.

So it was true, after all.

And there it was, Ethan had liked the post too.

That was the last straw. Tears finally spilled over, landing on my phone screen.

I tried to wipe them away, but the more I wiped, the blurrier everything got.

Melissa's taunting laugh rang in my ears.

She said, "Ethan just pitied you. That's the only reason he kept you around all these years. You really think you could marry into the Grant family and become Mrs. Grant? Get real!"

I didn't really understand what "get real" even meant.

But I refused to believe Ethan was only keeping me around because he felt sorry for me.

Two years ago, when the Grant family's last enemy ambushed Ethan, I ended up seriously injured because of it.

The moment I finally opened my eyes, Ethan was there, half-kneeling by my bed.

His eyes were red and glistening, just like a scared little rabbit's, and he was mumbling softly.

Ethan said, "Kaylee, it's been seven days. You're finally awake. Do you have any idea how scared I was?

"I've made up my mind. You've done so much for me. From now on, it's my turn to take care of you. When you're a bit older, let's get married, okay?"

The way Ethan looked at me back then was just like those moments I saw on TV.

It was just like when the hero poured his heart out to the girl he loved on screen.

His eyes were so bright, like stars were twinkling in them.

There was no way he said all that just because he felt sorry for me.

So... was Ethan taking it all back now?

I spent the whole night curled up, hugging my knees, just thinking and thinking.

By morning, my head was pounding, but I still couldn't figure any of it out.

Finally, I made up my mind. I was going to ask Ethan straight up, face to face.

The next evening, I headed to the place Ethan's assistant had told me about.

I took a cab to Majestic Lounge, but the bouncer at the door wouldn't let me in.

I couldn't be bothered to argue with him.

I pretended to go for a low kick, and he freaked out, dodging to the side.

I took my chance and bolted inside.

I found the private room 777, and it was buzzing with noise and laughter inside.

I started to feel a little excited, too.

I quickly pushed the door open.

But in that moment, my smile froze on my face, like the whole scene just stopped, like someone hit pause on my life.

My feet felt heavy as lead. I couldn't take a single step forward.

The private room was filled with people.

Everyone wore these mysterious, knowing smiles.

All eyes were fixed on the two in the middle, surrounded by the crowd.

Melissa, looking gorgeous, was holding a piece of white paper between her teeth.

Her smile was playful, her eyes sparkling as she leaned forward just a bit.

Ethan was grinning too. He leaned in, aiming to snatch the paper from her mouth with his lips.

His lashes flickered like butterfly wings as he moved closer.

Their faces were just inches apart, almost close enough to touch.

Someone started clapping and hyping them up.

"There were rumors Mr. Grant was gonna marry that tagalong of his, but no way that's happening! Mr. Grant and Ms. Quinn are the real deal."

"Yeah, that fool? Like she could ever be good enough for Mr. Grant. She's just making stuff up. That girl's not right in the head."

"Even if Mr. Grant said something, so what? He probably just said it to shut her up. It never meant anything."