Chapter 23

The revelation hit me like a punch to the gut. Alex's fiancée was Hartwell's daughter. The man we were trying to bring down had his claws in Alex in ways I never could have imagined.

"You son of a bitch," Alex growled, stepping towards Marcus.

Marcus held up his hands. "Just pointing out the facts," he said, his voice smug.

The rage in Alex's eyes was terrifying.

"You're engaged to Hartwell's daughter," I repeated, feeling the weight of the words sink in. "This is why you can't touch me, why you won't let us be together."

Alex's jaw was clenched tight, his hands balled into fists at his sides. "It's a prison," he said through gritted teeth.

"None of it matters, Alex. What ever might have been starting between us, is over." With that I turned and made my way back into the mansion.

The house was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the cacophony of emotions rushing through my head. As I walked through the hallways, each step felt heavier than the last.

I made my way to my room, needing spa