Just as the song ended and Lucian and I were sneaking out the back door, someone stepped in front of me.
It was Declan, blocking my way.
“Elara, we need to talk.”
He spoke first.
“About what?”
“Let’s go somewhere private.”
He insisted.
t
“Right here’s fine. Unless you wanna talk about the bullshit rumors you’ve been spreading, we’ve got nothing to say.”
I wasn’t even trying to hide my disgust. My voice was ice–cold.
“You seriously into that guy? He’s broke, Elara.”
“He can’t even support himself, you’re basically his sugar mama.”
“I’m not like that. If our families merged, it’d take yours to a whole new level.”
Declan looked like he couldn’t believe I’d moved on.
“Merged? Don’t act like I didn’t give you a chance.”
“Remember when my family was going under and you refused to even show your face?”
“Your mom tossed me a check for a million bucks and slammed the door.”
“I don’t care if it was back then or now–do I look like I need your damn money? And who I date is none of your
business.”
I stared him down, full of contempt.
“All we ever had was a messy breakup. Nothing more.”
Declan looked like he was finally realizing how badly he screwed up.
“What about all that crap you told me?”
“Forever love, loyalty, destiny–what was that?”
“Hallmark quotes, I guess.”
“I was just being charming. I never actually loved you.”
“You didn’t fall for that, did you?”
I grabbed Lucian’s hand and started walking away, tossing the next line casually as I passed Declan.
Never loved you.
Looking for true love in a rich–kid arranged marriage? Yeah, good luck with that.
“Wait–sis, that money you gave me before… that wasn’t from his mom, was it?”
Lucian had been quietly enjoying the drama, but now remembered the two million I’d wired him and raised an
eyebrow.
We hadn’t gotten far, so of course Declan heard it.
He snapped.
“You used our breakup money to bankroll him?!”
“You’re using my breakup money to fund some boy toy?!”
The second voice came from a sweet–looking girl who just showed up out of nowhere.
I rolled my eyes.
Don’t make it sound like we were ever a thing, girl.
“So does that make me the fisherman in some twisted love triangle?”
Lucian added helpfully.
Oh God. This is officially the weirdest love–square I’ve ever been in.
We were all standing like a lopsided triangle.
A perfect standoff.
Six eyes locked on me like we were in a final exam and I had the cheat sheet.
Nobody moved.
Total silence.
If anyone walked by, they’d think we were playing Red Light, Green Light.
“Achoo.”
A cold breeze hit, and I broke the stillness with a sneeze.
Which only made everything more awkward.
Lucian quickly took off his jacket and draped it over me.
“Don’t catch a cold, okay?”
He was being so sweet.
Would’ve been sweeter if he’d hurry up and get me outta here.
But clearly, someone wasn’t done.
The sweet girl spoke up.
“Give me back my money!”
“You broke off your engagement with Declan ages ago, but you still scammed me out of a million dollars!”
Oh. So now she realizes I was playing both sides.
“I didn’t, I’m not, you’ve got the wrong idea.”
My immediate response was classic: deny, deny, deny.
“You took it and now you’re lying about it?”
She looked genuinely shocked at how shameless I was.
Too bad she had no proof. There weren’t even cameras in that private room.
“I didn’t take anything.”
And since the money’s already gone, she’s got nothing.
“You-”
“If you’ve got evidence, I’ll give it back.”
Frustrated and out of arguments, she covered her face and ran off.
Drama over, just like that.
“You’re not gonna chase her?”
“She seemed pretty into you. She’d make a decent fiancée if you’re still shopping for one.”
Honestly, she wasn’t a bad option–at least her family name held weight.
Declan stood there for a second, then turned and ran after her.
Guess money still wins in his book.
Thank God I wasn’t dumb enough to fall for that loser.
Chapter 6
