Chapter 42

Rose stared

at Stefan, the wedding invitation sample still clutched in her hand. The gold- embossed lettering seemed to mock her now.

"What do you mean, postponed?" Her voice came out too high, too tight.

Stefan loosened his tie, exhaustion etched into every line of his face. "Just what I said. We need to push the wedding back. Until things stabilize with the company.

"Push it back? Push it back?" The invitation crumpled in her grip. "We've sent save-

the-dates to three hundred people. The venue is booked. The deposit is paid!"

"I know." Stefan moved to the bar, pouring himself a drink without offering her one. "My father made it a condition of his help with the company. No distractions. Full focus on saving what's left."

Rose watched him toss back expensive scotch like it was water. The careful control she'd maintained all these years

began to slip."Your father doesn't control our lives."

"He controls the board. He controls the family shares. Right now, he's the only thing standing between me and complete professional ruin." Stefan poured another drink. It's just a few months. Once I save the c

"If you save the company," Rose corrected, her voice laced with venom. "Let's be honest, Stefan. Your business is sinking, and you have no idea who's behind it."

He flinched as if she'd slapped him. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"I'm being realistic." She advanced on him, the crushed invitation still in her hand. "We've planned this wedding for a year. A year!

New York will be there. This is

something hardening in his expression. "My company is crashing. My family legacy is at risk. And

a strangled laugh. "Is

his head. It bounced harmlessly off his shoulder, but the action broke something loose inside her. All the careful planning, the years of manipulation, the

this wedding? For is?" She grabbed a crystal vase from the side table, feeling its

her, shock replacing exhaustion. "Jesus, Rase! What's wrong with you?" "What's wrong with me?" She seized a framed photo of them, ripping it from the wall. "What's wrong with you? First you let someone destroy your company piece by piece, and now you're letting your father dict The frame

Stefan grabbed for her arms, but she twisted away, snatching

I did to have you,"

Stefan stepped back, something like suspicion dawning in his eyes. "What exactly did you. sacrifice,

dangerous, unanswerable. For

rage took over again. The bottle smashed against the marble fireplace, alcohol spraying

husband to my pathetic sister! While you built your

another act of destruction. A crystal paperweight through the television screen.

backed away, watching her rampage with growing horror, "Rose, you need to calm

poison on her tongue. "Poor, sweet Camille who

gone, Rose." Stefan's voice held an edge she'd never heard before. "She's dead. And you're destroying our

perfect apartment. Something

dead," Rose agreed, sudden caution threading through

Not your father's company. Not your

broken glass crunching under her designer heels. "I've invested too much in us to postpone now. Too much time. Too much planning. Too many

you

unexpected and searing. Had he suspected all along? Had he seen through

Rose forced

away, the moment breaking, "Nothing Just.. this isn't the Rose I know." She laughed, the sound brittle and sharp. "Maybe you never knew me at

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