Chapter 1I Left Before the Vows

On our wedding day, I opened the bridal limousine with a smile and found a live hen inside instead of my bride.

The surprise passed, and I was calm again.

It had to be another stunt from Miles Carrington, my fiancee's possessive adopted brother.

When I turned, there he was, hanging off Vanessa's arm exactly as expected.

"Vanessa's marrying you, so I'm the one left all alone."

I was about to lose my temper when Vanessa smiled at him indulgently and turned to the officiant.

"The hen can stand in for me. The ceremony means the same thing either way."

The officiant looked mortified.

For the sake of the Rowe and Carrington name, I swallowed it. Again.

Then came the send-off to the bridal suite. The guests were still cheering when I eased the door open.

Miles had Vanessa pinned to the bed, thrashing around like a toddler mid-tantrum.

"I'm not sleeping alone tonight. Vanessa has to stay with me."

I'd hit my limit, but Vanessa cut me off before I could get a word out.

"Then we'll move the wedding night to next month."

The room went dead silent. She kept going as if nothing about this were strange.

"Miles is traveling overseas with friends next month. We can have it then."

She wore a faint smile, certain I'd still be the dignified, forgiving man she planned to marry.

Instead, I took off my boutonniere.

"Don't bother."

* * *

The room went so quiet I could hear every breath in it.

Eleanor Carrington forced a smile and tried to smooth it over.

"Vanessa's brother doesn't know any better. He's got the mind of a child. She'll make the wedding up to you."

Even Eleanor, who had always doted on her adopted son, thought Vanessa had gone too far.

Vanessa clearly didn't see it that way. She stared at me in disbelief.

"Julian, Miles is just too attached to me. Besides, we don't need a wedding to prove what we have.

"Your attitude here is completely out of line."

I stepped over the discarded boutonniere and moved closer, trying to read past the coldness in her face.

Five years together, and I'd believed we'd finally reached the life we planned.

Instead, she'd humiliated me in front of everyone.

All of it came out of me as one bitter laugh.

"So his word is law. And the wedding I spent months preparing—"

Before I could finish, Vanessa's expression hardened.

"Miles is my little brother and I love him. He grew up in an orphanage and he's terrified of being alone. Can't you show a little understanding?"

My fist clenched. Hadn't I shown enough?

The same performance had run on a loop for five years.

Vanessa once livestreamed a proposal to me from a hot-air balloon, then walked out on me in front of a dozen cameras because Miles said he didn't want to eat cake by himself.

Overnight, I turned into the biggest joke in Glenmoor.

Another time, in a downpour, I drove off the road into the river. The water was climbing past my chest and I called her over and over. She never picked up.

I found out later she'd been holding Miles until he fell asleep, because the thunder scared him.

The memories came back so hard I could barely pull in a breath.

My patience was gone. I felt the exact moment it went.

I said it clearly enough that nobody could pretend not to hear. "I'm not going through with this."

A gasp went around the room. Vanessa hauled me into the side room, furious.

"Fine. From now on I'll stay right beside you and ignore Miles completely. Is that what you want? Are you satisfied?"

Miles pounded on the door and she didn't so much as flinch.

"You're not going to die from being alone for five minutes."

Vanessa's chest rose and fell as she watched me.

Then a commotion started outside. Something was happening to Miles.

"Vanessa, I'm freezing. Nothing helps unless you hold me."

Vanessa let out an exasperated breath and was out the door in seconds.

It slammed behind her, and the sound landed somewhere deep in my chest.

I made myself go still. Then I called a number I hadn't used in years.

"You told me once you'd never marry anyone but me. Does that still stand?"