Total pages in book: 164
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 787(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
She shrugged. “Eh, whatever. If he used me to fuck around on you, you deserve to know. I’m looking out for you. Say thanks.”
“Thanks?” I shook my head. “Good news is the marriage is arranged. That’s not a secret. I’m sure most people figured it out since Victor never mentioned me.”
“Why would you say yes to an arranged marriage?”
Because my stepfather refused to fund my tuition unless I did.
“Because the match makes sense,” I replied instead. That was the line Victor’s mother was giving people. It’d work for me as well. “Besides, from what Victor said, arranged marriages aren’t uncommon around here. He said it’s a say-I-do-or-lose-your-inheritance type thing in Regalia.”
“Yeah, but only for guys whose parents are controlling shits who don’t love them. Tough break for Victor.” She patted my arm. “And you.”
“You just insinuated my folks don’t love me, but I have a feeling that was your attempt to commiserate and bond with me, so I’m letting it go.”
She laughed. “Didn’t insinuate it, Lu-Lu. This whole situation is garbage. Who forces their daughter to marry someone who cares so little about her he can’t be bothered to keep it in his pants while the ring is on her finger? All the while she’s grieving over losing her sister. Yeah, they’re punishing your ass for something. Thankfully, I never have to worry about that. Just one of the many ways I’m blessed to be me.”
“Now you ruined it, you asshole.”
Katie only laughed louder. I was starting to suspect she was a sociopath.
“For real,” Katie said, sobering. “I’m sorry about your sister. She was cool. When we worked on the project together, she brought me low-fat white chocolate lattes every morning because she knew it was my favorite. She wasn’t sucking up either. She was just... being nice. The nice don’t last long in this town,” she said, sweeping over the landscape. “But that doesn’t make it okay.”
I swiped a tear off my cheek. “Thank you,” I said softly. “Winter was the best person there ever was. Better than I could be. I’m glad to know at least someone stood up for her.”
“Don’t thank me.” The edge in her reply made me look up. “I obviously didn’t do enough. And though it may have sounded like I was, that wasn’t an attempt to commiserate and bond either. That was a warning, Luna. Regalia University is brutal for those who don’t attract the wrong attention, it’s worse for those that do. If whoever bullied your sister finds out you’re the new freshman, three guesses who they’ll come after next.
“Driving a girl to suicide doesn’t go up high on the résumé. They’re not going to like you digging up what happened and ruining their reputation.”
“What are you saying? I should keep my head down? There’s no point hiding now. Winter went by Winter Bowden to make Mom happy, but it seems she let slip she’s a Sinclair too. If you figured it out, other people will too. But it doesn’t matter because I’m not going anywhere.”
“I said my piece.” Katie sauntered toward the door. “When shit turns bad and you’re looking for who to blame, remember who warned you.”
“I told you. There’s nothing anyone can do to me now. I’m already in hell.”
Katie paused, reaching for the door. If she was going to say something, she thought better of it and went inside.
I sank in the chair, dropping my face in my hands. Maybe there was a chance of me lying low if it wasn’t for Martha and Jack insisting we announce the engagement to the whole fucking world.
I couldn’t have hidden for long, sense said. I hoped going by Luna Sinclair would give me protection, but in the end, I didn’t come here to play undercover spy. I want those Royals to know who I am. They need to know exactly why they are being punished.
“She’s right, you know.”
Jumping up, I spun around. Four ladies glided down the garden path, climbing the stairs onto the terrace. I recognized them as the group Katie and I walked through coming out of the party.
A girl in a long-sleeved sheer peach dress led the pack. Bold as well as beautiful, the dress’s beading was strategically placed to cover her important bits. The rest of the dress left nothing to the imagination. Matching peach lipstick graced her full smiling mouth, and her long, blonde hair fell past her shoulders, adding up to the loveliest woman I’ve seen out of a magazine. I wished I could say she was the only one showing me up at my own party. Down the line, beautiful models in dresses worth as much as Bowden Manor surrounded me.
“I hope you don’t mind that we listened in,” said Peach Dress. “Your last name sounded familiar, so we followed you out to ask if there was any relation to a Winter Sinclair-Bowden. I guess we have our answer.”