Chapter 2
As Adrian stored off, the wedding othriant was belt awkwardly stranded, frantically waving at the DJ to kill the mir
The
moment the tunes cut off, the crowil exploded into whispers and side–eye glances, gossip rippling through like wildline.
“What a trainwreck,” someone muttered under their breath. “Engaged for a whole year, and now this? What a damn mess”
Another voice chimed in, “She may look all sweet and innocent, but she’s clearly got a few tricks up her sleeve. No way she got that good without. some practice. You can’t play with fire and not get burned. Bet someone got jealous and blew the whole thing wide open.”
That ‘ast comment hit Calista like a slap in the face. Rage bubbling up, she screamed at the crowd, “You’re all full of it! Edon’t do anything!”
words didn’t land. The crowd wasn’t here for her–they were here for the Cole family. And now that Adrian had walked, she was just another body:
Took at her, completely losing it someone snickered. “How pathetic.”
Instead of crawling off like a whipped dog, she’s got the guts to yell at us? Seriously?”
“She’s playing the victim, acting all innocent while playing both sides. What a hypocrite.”
If that were my daughter, Til smack some sense into her,”
Let’s get out of here. This circus is over.”
Calista’s mind was spinning. She couldn’t figure out how her perfect day turned into a total nightmare. This can’t be happening, she thought. “This can’t be the end of Adrian and me!
Kicking off her heels and gathering up her heavy wedding gown n in both hands, she bolted after him.
Outside the hotel, she spotted Adrian standing by an open car door, flipping through some papers. Her heart pounded as she ran toward him.
“Adrian!” she called, her voice trembling with desperation and hurt
Adrian’s hands stilled on the papers, and he turned to face her, his expression unreadable.
Tears welled in Calista’s red, puffy eyes as she choked out, “How could you just walk out on me? How could you believe those fake photos over me!”
Adrian’s gaze was cold as ice, his face emotionless. “Were you in room 309 at the Winston Hotel last week?” he asked flatly.
The specific time and place instantly awakened Calista’s memory. She froze, the denial she was about to utter dying on her lips. She had been in that room, she realized.
It was her sister Mira Terell’s 18th birthday party that day, and she’d been talked into downing a bottle of liquor. The next thing she knew, she’d woken up in that hotel room.
But as she remembered the photos on the screen earlier, a chill ran down her spine. Something wasn’t adding up
When she’d woken up that morning, she’d been alone. And apart from the killer headache, she was certain there had been no other discomfort. “At a loss for words” Adrian asked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
The mocking tone snapped Calista back to reality. She stammered. “Yes, I was there, but
But Adrian wasn’t having it “Save your breath,” he cut her off coldly, shoving the papers he’d been holding at her. “Take a good look. I’m not an idiot.”
Calista reflexively grabbed the documents and scanned them. They were mostly photos, many of which she recognized from the wedding slideshow.
However, these were even more numerous and damning than what had been shown. And there in some of the photos was her sister, Mira. “None of this is real,” Calista insisted, trying to defend herself. I can get Mira to explain everything. There’s been a huge misunderstanding. That day was Mira’s birthday—”
But Adrian wasn’t interested in hearing her out. His hand shot out, gripping her chin and cutting off her words. “It’s over, Calista,” he said, his voice eerily calm as he stared into her eyes.
They were so close that Calista coull see her own panicked reflection in his tilted eyes behind his frameless glasses. She felt a shiver run down her spine as he continued, his voice low and menacing.
“If only you’d kept playing nice, he said. “But there’s no going back now. You had me fooled for two whole years. I can’t believe I fell for that sweet and innocent act. You’re damaged goods to me now. In the end, I was an idiot to think you could ever be as good as her.”
Chapter
Calista’s confusion deepened. She couldn’t fathom who this other woman could be or why Adrian was suddenly comparing her to someone else.
With his free hand, Adrian pulled out the ring box from his pocket and flipped it open.
P Phases
