Page 33 of Heartless Sinner

Mom’s smile disappeared. “Who did then?”

“Brooks.”

She shot off the sofa. “That son of a bitch!”

Her heels stabbed into the rug as she paced in front of me. She didn’t need to say what she was thinking. Brooks would put me through hell.

She stopped mid-step. “President Byron would never approve of him selecting you.”

I nodded. That was my only hope.

Hope was the keyword.

President Byron hated me enough that revenge might sound like a great reason to approve it.

“How do I fix this?” I asked.

“You have two choices. Either fight him every step of the way.”

I waited for the other.

“Or make him fall in love with you.”

I almost laughed. Except nothing about that option was funny. It was fucking terrifying.

She dropped to her knees in front of me and covered my hands with hers. “You’re strong, Daphne. You’ll make it through this.” Her grip turned painfully firm. “But no matter what, Brooks can never find out what we did.”

Star-filled nights in Calira were my favorite.

The salty breeze swept gently across my skin as I listened to the steady beat of drums, violins, and traditional Caliran instruments.

The Tide Ball always felt like stepping into a fairy tale.

Every year, we held the ball on the oceanside terrace, letting the sea cleanse us for another year.

Watching the belly dancers sway, I adjusted the headpiece connected to my crown. Diamonds draped across my face. Every Caliran woman wore jewel stones tonight, but only royalty wore diamonds.

“Happy Tide Day.”

Cory stopped at my side, holding a champagne flute in each hand. His face was painted gold and blue like all men on Tide Day, matching his blue suit and gold tie.

“Happy Tide Day,” I repeated as people danced in front of us.

He offered me a glass, and I accepted it before taking a drink.

Tonight, I had to stay sober and not do anything to piss my grandfather off. I’d left my sage in my room and planned to keep my lips to myself.

He held out his flute to toast with me. “To another year of Caliran greatness.”

I tapped my glass against his but didn’t take another drink.

He downed his champagne in one smooth swallow before setting the empty flute on a nearby table draped in shimmering gold cloth.

“Care to give me the pleasure of dancing with the princess?” He held out his hand.

Cory knew me saying no would look bad. It’d definitely remove me from the Best Behavior list.

“Of course,” I said, lowering my glass to the table and slipping my hand into his.