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His eyes flicked up to mine in shock. “Love? I suppose there was an element of love. We were a good partnership. It was sad when she was gone, but you were there to take over and fill the void,” he smiled. “Of course, once you’re married, I’ll have to find someone new to take your place. Perhaps I’ll find another wife.”
“Just like that?”
“Why not? There are plenty of women who want money and position. It should be simple enough to find someone compatible.”
Easy enough. I thought of how well Bryce and I got along. But we’d known each other forever. But the way my father talked about it, it was like he was going to find a good pair of shoes. Easy enough if he had enough choices.
“You need to get going. George is waiting for you.”
I nodded and grabbed my clutch, walking on shaky legs out of my bedroom. My father was already well ahead of me. He was excited about this marriage, but it felt like a sinking pit to me. This was what I had worked so hard toward. I couldn’t give up on it now, but with every step I took, I felt a stab of pain in my chest, telling me not to do this.
Richard nodded to me as he held open the door. I stepped outside and gasped when I saw Brock standing by the car. Decked out in his typical suit with a blue tie and his hair slicked to one side, he looked devastatingly handsome. Elation filled me and I almost ran to him.
“Ms. Wren, is everything okay?” Richard asked.
I smiled at him as excitement brewed in my stomach. But when I looked back at the car, it was only George standing by the door. The excitement quickly morphed into dread.
“Ms. Wren?”
“Everything’s fine,” I murmured, taking the first step out the door.
How could I have imagined Brock standing there? And why was I so happy? He didn’t even want to see me again. I was nothing but a cold fish. At least, that’s the way he described me. But seeing him again—or the thought of seeing him—lightened my spirits in a way I never could have imagined. For the first time since I’d returned home, I was actually happy.
And it was only my brain tricking me.
I was in the car and headed toward the restaurant before I even realized what was happening. I was so lost in my thoughts—thoughts of Brock and our last few days together. He’d asked me to make a choice, and I chose to leave him. I knew it was the only way forward. Our lives didn’t mingle. I kept telling myself that, but the more I said it, the more I wondered if it was really true.
By the time we pulled up to the restaurant, I was a hot mess. My heart was racing out of control and my palms were sweating. Thankfully, Bryce was there to help me out. I wasn’t sure I would have managed it on my own. I took his arm, grateful for the support, but walking into the restaurant, I tripped and nearly fell down.
Bryce caught me, chuckling lightly. “Everything okay?”
“Yes,” I said, flustered and anxious.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I snapped, feeling like I was walking on a tightrope.
“You’re never this clumsy.”
“Well, I guess there’s a first time for everything.”
He leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Everything’s set. Don’t ruin this.”
I found myself feeling defensive, though I couldn’t tell him why. We wound our way up to the rooftop where everything was set up for the big proposal. I gasped when I saw Brock sitting just one table over and nearly fainted.
Clutching Bryce’s hand, I couldn’t move forward.
“What is going on with you tonight?” he hissed.
“Bryce…”
“Wren, you’re embarrassing me.”
His head turned toward me and my heart sank. It wasn’t Brock. Just someone with really nice hair. What was wrong with me?
“Can we sit down now?”
I stared at the table for another beat, thinking maybe my mind was playing tricks on me, but as the man watched me carefully, I finally admitted what my heart was telling me.
