Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 117176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Our father walked in, the air practically crackling with intensity. He was tall, although not as tall as Killian. Bishop Romano walked with a confident stature; his shoulders squared. At the sight of his two daughters together, he gave the rare smile he only reserved for us.
“I heard a rumor. That your fiancé has given you a ring,” Father said, coming to stand in front of Gracelynn. “Let me see so I can judge if he has given my daughter what she is worth.”
Our father grasped Gracelynn’s hand in his and his brows wrinkled. He let out a humph in response. “It’s smaller than what I would expect from a Spencer.”
“It’s perfect,” I said, defensively. Before I could stop myself or think it through. How could he judge Killian’s love for me with just a stone? It wasn’t fair. Killian could have afforded a million-dollar ring easily, with a huge diamond, but he chose to give me this one – because he knew it was what I’d preferred.
Something simple and elegant.
My father shot me a confused glance, but Gracelynn was already clearing her throat, bringing his attention back to her. “I like it,” she said, giving our father a perfect smile.
Even I would have believed her if I didn’t know the truth already.
He cupped her cheek, smiling. “My daughter deserves nothing less than the most expensive stone in the world.”
“Killian knows my preferences,” Gracelynn explained. “This ring is perfect for me.”
“If you say so.” Our father nodded. “I’m proud of you, Gracelynn. To celebrate this engagement, I’m throwing a party next weekend. It is time for the people to know that a Spencer and Romano have been joined together, by blood and loyalty.”
My eyes widened, my heart stuttering at his announcement. Father nodded at both of us before leaving. Gracelynn locked the door behind him and I slumped on the bed, shaking.
“Shit,” I cursed, as my sister came back to me. She handed my ring back, placing it in the middle of my palm. My fingers curled around the diamond ring, keeping it in my fist.
“We need to tell him the truth,” Gracelynn said.
“Father will never accept this marriage. You’re the eldest daughter –”
My sister made an exasperated sound in the back of her throat, before cutting my rambling off. “It doesn’t matter what Dad wants. Killian needs to know the truth and he’ll make the decision.”
All the warmth left my body and I felt cold, as if I had been dumped into a tub of ice. “What if…”
Gracelynn was already shaking her head. “He loves you and he’ll always choose you,” she assured me with such certainty that I almost believed her. “Dad needs this contract marriage. At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter who Killian marries. Me or you. And anyway, you know my plans.”
Her plans… yes, of course.
Her plans would solve our messy situation but…
“How can I convince you to stay?” I whispered. My chest tightened, the ache burrowing deeper under my flesh, into my bones.
Gracelynn sat down beside me on the bed. She curled an arm around my shoulders and I wrapped mine around her waist. She sniffled and tears burned the back of my eyes. “I’m doing it for my baby and Simon,” she said, her voice breaking. “I can’t stay here.”
Bishop Romano would never accept a mere bodyguard as his eldest daughter’s husband. In fact, he would do anything to ruin Gracelynn and Simon’s relationship, if he were to come to know of it.
Simon wasn’t born with a golden spoon in his mouth. In fact, he was an orphan. Simon was common folk while Gracelynn was royalty.
Bishop Romano wasn’t exactly a bad father; he just cared more about his status in high society than his children’s happiness. His heir marrying a bodyguard, without status and without a family’s wealth, would be a disgrace to him. He would never accept such an alliance.
“Is running away really the answer?” I questioned.
“Running away is the only option,” Gracelynn whispered. “Once our father is calmed down and he marries you off to Killian… I’ll send Dad a letter. But I won’t come back until I know he accepts Simon as my love and the father of my baby.”
Gracelynn was able to launder three hundred thousand dollars from her trust fund, without our father noticing thus far. And with Simon’s savings… they had enough to settle down somewhere very far away from here.
I pulled away, swiping at my wet cheeks. I hadn’t even realized that I was crying. “Where do you plan to go?”
My sister shook her head; her grey eyes – identical to mine – were glassy and wet. “I can’t tell you. The less you know, the better it is for both of us. Because the first person dad will question when he finds out I’m gone is you.”