Page 141 of Corrupt Me

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I shove the button of my tuxedo into the tiny slit, and it’s a wonder I don’t crack it as I watch my phone ringing. It’s Bailey. I am afraid if I answer, my plan of behaving will poof in the air like smoke after a fired bullet.

I am so furious with her right now. I don’t want to say something I might regret. Each ring tugs at my heartstrings, tempting me to give in to the madness, but if I do, every exercise in self-control would have been for nothing.

I take all the suffering smothering my bones and focus on one goal: revenge.

As I take the stairs down, my friends eye me intently from the hallway.

“Let’s go,” I say, so done with them checking on me as if I’m a loose cannon ready to blow up and shatter our foundation.

While hopping into Kaden’s BMW, I keep reminding myself I can’t let my feelings show. Trying to compose myself, I clench and unclench my fists at my sides, letting my breaths fall out in a steady stream.

Kaden looks at me from the rearview mirror. “This won’t be for long.”

“And you know the truth,” Dane adds from my left.

They’re trying to encourage me, and I am grateful for their friendship, but pushing through is hard as fuck.

“Don’t hurt my sister, or I’ll hurt you even worse,” Blake threatens.

Dane’s brows furrow. “This is not awkward at all.”

“The Family,” Kaden says, and we all nod knowingly. And we’re the heirs. Lucky us.

Once we reach the estate, the guys trickle out of the car one by one, but I need a few seconds to steel my composure. Every fiber of my being trembles with this overwhelming urge to snap Eric’s neck and be done with the pretense.

Inhaling deeply, I tell myself that Bailey is mine. Just mine. But soon, she’ll wear someone else’s ring on her finger. Someone else will call her his fiancée. Squeezing my eyes shut doesn’t alleviate my dejection. On the contrary, keeping my cool borders on impossible. That picture plays like a horrific movie in my head, increasing my stress to dangerous levels. I wouldn’t be surprised if I had an aneurysm.

A knock on the window has me snapping my eyes open. Celine’s features soften into empathy, urging me to get out of the car.

“You can do this. If I could, so can you. I understand that it’s hard, but trust your love. Just think, this will all be over soon, and you can enjoy being together freely.”

With a sharp nod, I get out and straighten my tuxedo jacket.

Samuel lets us inside, and my gaze sweeps the entry, seeking Bailey. She’s nowhere in sight. The elegant ballroom hosts the guests, who chat and drink animatedly, which only spurs my unease. A quartet plays in the corner while women and men in black-and-white uniforms carry trays of appetizers and champagne glasses.

Fake would be something else, but everyone here expects an engagement to happen. My eyes clash with Eric’s. The bastard is wearing a smug expression and has the audacity to lift a glass of champagne in my direction.

Enjoy it while you can.It’s going to be me who’ll have Bailey in the end.

“Ignore him. He just wants to rile you up,” Kaden says, plucking two glasses from a passing tray and offering me one.

Sweat gathers at my nape with every second, and I’m just short of self-combusting. Everything is fucking wrong. I could so easily beat the shit out of him, kidnap her, and take her far away. I just got her, and now the dream feels like it’s slipping farther away while I try to hold on to it with a death grip.

“If that asshole looks at you one more time, I’m going to kill him,” Celine mutters, her voice laced with anger, echoing my state of mind.

Abi places a hand on my arm. “Let him think he won. It will be worth it when he realizes nothing he did could have kept you apart.”

She gazes at Dane, who pulls her to his side and says, “Nothing did. Nothing will.”

My sister has kept silent, eyeing me with obvious worry before she glares at Eric.

“If I can stay calm, so can you,” I tell Mia, and she huffs, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I’d be really smooth and stealthy.”

“Silver, let’s postpone that revenge plan of yours until we find that asshole, Felix,” Blake says, leaning in to kiss her temple.

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