Page 76 of Cowboy's Healing Heart

Eleanor's eyes narrow, all pretense of politeness dropping away. "And what about what Shane wants? Do you really think he'll be satisfied with some backwater ceremony? He was raised for more than that."

Her words hit me like a physical blow. Because deep down, in the darkest corners of my mind, I've wondered the same thing.

Will Shane really be happy with the simple life I want? Or will he always be yearning for this?

"I think," I say, holding her gaze, "that you don't know your son as well as you think you do."

With that, I turn on my heel and walk away, my head held high even as my heart races. I need air. I need to escape the suffocating atmosphere.

I find my way to a balcony, the cool night air a welcome relief against my flushed skin. The city stretches out before me,a glittering canvas of lights and stars. But in this moment, I've never felt more alone.

I close my eyes, taking deep breaths to calm my nerves. Why am I letting these people get to me?

"Krystal?"

I turn to see Shane standing in the doorway, concern etched on his face. He steps out onto the balcony, closing the door behind him.

"Are you okay?" he asks, moving to stand beside me. "Did they say something?"

I shake my head, not trusting myself to speak. How do I tell him that every interaction with his family, every moment here, makes me feel less and less like myself?

Shane's hand finds mine, his touch warm and familiar. "Talk to me, Krystal. Please."

I take a deep breath, steeling myself. "Your mother thinks our wedding should be some grand society event. She doesn't understand why we'd want something small and intimate."

Shane sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. She can be... overwhelming sometimes."

"It's not just that," I say, the words tumbling out now that I've started. "It's everything. The way people look at me here, like I'm some curiosity. The constant reminders that I don't belong here. I feel like I'm losing myself, trying to fit into a mold I was never meant for."

Shane turns to face me, his eyes searching mine. "Krystal, you don't have to change who you are. I love you for you, not for some society version of you."

"Are you sure? Because sometimes I wonder if you see me or just see what you want to see."

"What do you mean? I've done everything I can to make this a smooth transition."

I gesture back towards the ballroom, where the party continues without us. "This isyourlife, Shane. The galas, the networking, and the constant pressure to maintain your family's status. It's suffocating, and I... I don't know if I can keep this up."

SIXTEEN

BREAKING POINT

SHANE

"Gentlemen,"I say, my voice steady despite the nerves churning in my gut. "Let's talk about the future of military technology."

The top brass from the Department of Defense sit around the polished mahogany table, their eyes fixed on me as I take my place at the head of the table.

But as I speak, a part of me feels hollow—empty, like I'm playing a role in someone else's life.

My father's steely gaze meets mine, a silent challenge in his eyes.

I pull up the presentation on the screen, diving into the details of our proposal. As I speak, I images of Krystal and Ashanti roll through my mind. The life I want with them feels a million miles away from this sterile boardroom.

After the gala, nothing I say or do can bring back that joy we had, and I have no one to blame but me.

"Our cybersecurity measures exceed their requirements," I explain, pointing to a graph. "We've implemented?—"

"Shane," my father interrupts, his tone sharp. "Are you fully committed to this?"

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