On Her Wedding, She’ll Run Away with Her Groom’s Brother1
The boldest thing Solenne Frankenthaler had ever done was fall in love with a man she shouldn’t—her fiancé’s younger brother—fully knowing she was set to marry the eldest of the Stettheimers children.
Worse, she was plotting to fake her death and run away with her lover.
Inside the villa, Rockwell Stettheimer pinned her beneath him on the bed.
“Be a good girl for me, babe. Stay still. Let me show you what happens when you trust me.”
His teasing tone in her ear made her cheeks flush.
When it was finally over, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Babe,” she whispered, “when will you take me away? I just want to be with you, openly and officially. I love you so much. I really want to be yours.”
They were each other’s first love.
But her family forced her to get engaged to someone else. She refused and begged Rockwell to elope with her.
He agreed. But on the day they were supposed to run away together, he didn’t show up.
She was left with no choice but to get engaged to Luther, the eldest son of the family she would be marrying into.
Only then did she realize—Rockwell was actually her fiancé’s younger brother.
Seeing her tear up, Rockwell put on his clothes as he casually promised, “Soon. Just two more weeks. On your wedding day, we’ll run away.”
The word “wedding” made Solenne falter. She looked at him in doubt.
“This time… you’ll really take me away, right?”
Rockwell stroked her brows gently, his eyes filled with affection.
“I got into a car accident last time. I was unconscious in the hospital—I didn’t mean to leave you hanging.
“But I swear, nothing will go wrong this time.
“You know how much I love you, babe. Do you really think I’d let you marry someone else?”
Solenne finally relaxed. Her eyes curved into a soft smile.
“I believe everything you say.”
Rockwell tapped her nose fondly.
“You love painting, don’t you? After we run away, I’ll open a gallery for you. We’ll hang all your art in it.”
She giggled, giving him a playful pout. “You always know how to sweet-talk me.”
He chuckled. “Nah. Anyway, I have to go, babe. I’ve got a meeting. The maid will clean this room later. If you’re tired, rest in the guest room.”
She nodded and watched him leave, obediently and full of trust.
Just a few minutes after she began tidying up, she spotted Rockwell’s wrist watch lying on the bed.