Island Prison: His Last Chance, Her Refusal - Chapter 17

Chapter 17 Wedding Date After the escape, Elena had called home. "What about that boyfriend you had for years?" Ethan's voice was tight over the line. "Did you break up?" She hesitated. The truth was a tangled, ugly knot. She chose a simpler thread. "It was just a college thing. We wanted different things after graduation." Ethan didn't buy it. He knew her too well. "Even if you did break up, jumping to Adrian Cross? He's practically family, Elena. Different generation." She almost laughed. Adrian was only seven years older. And he'd already charmed her parents into delighted compliance.

When she'd told them, their only question was when they could meet him properly. "He's good to me," she said, and it wasn't entirely a lie. Adrian was good in an overwhelming, transactional way. He'd learned she liked jewelry, and now rare pieces-some once worn by royalty-appeared daily like glossy tributes. When she'd murmured she didn't need more gifts, he'd sent a bouquet woven from blank checks. And yet, here was Adrian Cross-a man who commanded fear in both boardrooms and back alleys-voluntarily tying an apron around his waist, standing in a sunlit kitchen, cooking a meal.

She watched him from the sofa, a question forming she couldn't quite voice: Why? If this was just a merger, a move against Julian, why the performance? Why the effort? He turned, bringing a bowl of cut fruit. He fed her a piece. "You're quiet." She chewed, silent. He smoothed her hair. "The wedding date is set. I've made the arrangements. Tell me if you want anything changed." "The dress," he continued, "I have a team flying in this afternoon. A few options for you to try." The sheer scale of it-the planning, the specificity-touched something cold and guarded inside her.

This wasn't a discreet contract signing. This was a pageant. Her phone buzzed with a memory: Ethan's texts from days ago. 1/2 Ethan: Julian was the ex, wasn't he? Ethan: I beat the shit out of him. He's been staying at our gate begging for you Ethan: Heard he's drinking himself to death. Don't you dare feel sorry for him The words surfaced, unbidden. "Julian... he's not doing well." The air in the room shifted, cool and still. Adrian's hand paused in her hair. Adrian's hand stilled. He pulled her into his lap, his chin resting roughly on th head.

"Why bring him up now?" His voice was a low growl against her hair. Cedella Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella's storytelling style is immersive and addictive-perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.