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I looped an arm around her waist, tucking her into my side. She was so furious that I could feel her shaking as she struggled to stay calm.
“I thought I would put those rumors to rest once and for all,” Donna said. “Everything you’ve heard is true. I’m so pleased that my daughter has chosen to marry a man who will give her the best this world has to offer. Please join me in a toast to celebrate the engagement of Lionel Holmes and my Bethany Marie—”
“Bullshit.”
A gasp went up from the crowd as every head in the room swiveled toward Beth. Pride surged in my chest.
“That’s my girl,” I whispered under my breath.
Donna’s icy gaze settled on Beth first and her smile hardened. Then her gaze darted to me. I couldn’t help myself as a little smirk curled up at the corner of my lips and I winked. Donna’s face turned several shades of red.
“Please excuse my daughter,” Donna said through her teeth. “I can clearly tell the champagne is a bit too strong for her.”
As she marched down from the dais, the crowd parted, scrambling to get out of her way. Beth stood her ground, her back ramrod straight and her chin held high.
Donna yanked the champagne glasses out of Beth’s hands.
“What the hell are you doing embarrassing me like this?” she spat.
“I’m not marrying Lionel,” Beth declared, loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Lower your voice, young lady,” Donna demanded, her face inches away from Beth. I shouldered between them, putting a palm out to signal that Donna was getting too close. She glanced down at my hand with an incredulous look.
“Back up,” I growled.
She stared at me for a moment before retreating a few steps. Her gaze narrowed on Beth again.
“After everything I’ve done for you,” she said, her voice trembling with anger. “You’re going to throw it all away for a fling with a biker.”
“He’s not a fling,” Beth countered.
Donna scoffed.
“I thought you were smarter than this, Bethany Marie. You never behaved this way with Lionel.”
“Because Lionel treated me like a piece of property.”
“At least he kept his hands off you!” Donna shot back.
Beth let out a bitter laugh of disbelief.
“You can’t possibly believe that. Your precious Lionel wanted sex at every opportunity. And he wasterribleat it. Do you know he never made me come? Not once. He claimed I took too long and it wasn’t worth the trouble. In reality, he doesn’t have theslightest cluehow to get a woman to orgasm.”
She grabbed a fistful of her skirt and shook it at her mother.
“You sold my body to the highest bidder. I haven’t been your innocent virgin daughter for a long time. And I’m done being obedient to you. I choose to be with Axel and I will continue to choose him every day for the rest of my life.”
Donna’s face was practically purple now. She sputtered, furious.
“You’re acting like a sex-crazed slut, Bethany Marie, ruining a perfectly good career for a little dick.”
Rage boiled in my chest. But before I could say anything, Beth beat me to it.
“Trust me, Mother, there’s nothing little about it.”
The breath punched out of me with surprise. A titter of nervous laughter filtered through the crowd. Beth grabbed my hand and I fell into step beside her as we forged a path out of the gallery.
By the time we were outside, I was wheezing with laughter so hard that I stumbled. Beth’s face was bright red.
