“You’re in my fitting room,” I manage to say, my voice shaky.There’s an alarm ringing at the back of my head.
“Isn’t this normal for an engaged couple?”
“But…” I raise both hands to keep him back, but he steps closer and wraps his arms around my waist.I push at his chest.
“Why?Didn’t we agree to make this relationship work?”he whispers near my ear, his breath warm against my skin.
This is completely wrong.Laird and Matthew can hear everything through the necklace transmitter.And I’m still loyal to Laird.But Alan doesn’t stop.He buries his face in my neck, his tongue grazing my skin until a shiver runs through me.
“Listen, Alan,” I gasp, panic rising in my throat.“I’m not ready.”
“Why?”His lips press against my neck, sucking hard enough to make me tremble.
“Please, I’m not ready.I don’t wanna disappoint you or make you feel like I’m using you as a rebound.I—” Words tumble out of my mouth.He’s not stopping.No.I push him with all my strength, eyes shut tight.
“I still love Laird!”The words burst out of me, and my chest burns.
Alan freezes.He pulls back and stares at me.“You said you’d try to love me.Shouldn’t you have forgotten him by now?”His voice turns cold.His jaw tightens, anger rising behind his glare.
“I’m sorry.I just need more time.”My hands press against the mirror behind me, searching for something to hold on to.
His fingers dig into my waist like he’s holding himself back from snapping.I’m panting, tears forming in my eyes.He stays silent, but the tension between us is thick.
“You better get ready soon, Fenella.My patience is wearing thin, and I wanna make you mine.”His hand moves to my face.He grips my cheek hard enough to hurt.
“I’m sorry, Alan,” I say, my voice breaking through tears.
My head tilts back under his grip until my neck aches.He leans close, whispering through gritted teeth.“I’m starting to think you’re using me to get back at Amy.You think you’ll hurt her by hooking up with Peter, is that it?”
I shake my head as much as I can.“No.I swear that’s not true.”
“Good.Because after the gala, I’ll claim you.Then I’ll take you far away from here.”His lips brush my ear.“When that time comes, you’ll never look at another man again.Not Laird, not Peter.You’ll be mine.Completely.”
He steps back, straightens his jacket, and glares down at me.I drop my gaze to the floor, my body still shaking.He slams the door and walks out, leaving the fitting room in silence.
* * *
That night, we all gather again in the Baxter family’s living room after replaying the recording.The air feels heavy as we sit there, thinking about what happened today.Alan’s possessiveness escalated too fast, and I don’t know how much longer I can take it.
“That guy’s insane!”Jessy groans, throwing his hands up.
“I think he’s just desperate.Heartbroken because Fenella still doesn’t love him the way he wants,” Matthew says, shaking his head with a newspaper open in front of his face.
“That was dangerous.I don’t even know whether to be grateful you rejected him or scared that you did,” Laird says, squeezing my hand.
“Yeah, I know.It just came out.I couldn’t act any better.I’m sorry,” I say, squeezing his hand back.
“Hey, it’s fine.Don’t apologize.I’m just flattered you still confessed your love for me in a moment like that,” Laird says with a small grin before kissing me.
“I can’t lie,” I murmur, returning the warm kiss, longer this time.
“Oh, man.If I wasn’t holding him down, he’d be storming out to beat Alan to a pulp,” Matthew says, shaking his head.
“Hey, Golden just joined the meeting room!”Jessy blurts, hunching closer to the laptop.Malcolm Golden’s name pops up on the screen.
“Kids, here are your favorite chocolate cookies.Fresh from the oven,” my mom says as she walks in, setting down a big plate of warm cookies on the coffee table—a sweet distraction from all the tension.
“Thanks, Mom,” Laird says with a grin, grabbing one right away.
