She turned her head, brushing her lips over his ear, her voice loud enough to carry through the open window. “Mr. Blackburn, don’t you think this would be even more exciting if Tara could see us right now?”
Lex scowled, his movements growing harsher. “Shut up! Don’t you ever say her name!”
“You’re nothing but a tool. Have I been too soft with you lately? Is that why you’ve gotten bold enough to even bring up her name?”
When he was angry, Lex became relentless. He move roughly, reducing Phoebe’s pleas to nothing more than broken sobs. I clamped my hands over my mouth, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face as a tidal wave of anguish consumed me.
The man who had vowed to the world that I was his one and only—Lex Blackburn—was nothing but a liar. I don’t even remember how I managed to leave the Lex & Tara Enterprises building that day. All I knew was that the wedding would never happen. If Lex had betrayed our love, then I would disappear from his world entirely. Let him spend the rest of his life searching, only to come up empty-handed.
A sudden gasp from the crowd around me pulled me out of my tormenting thoughts.
“What a stunning wedding gown! Mr. Blackburn is absolutely spoiling Miss Copeland.”
At the entrance of a high-end boutique, a group of workers carefully maneuvered a heavily adorned wedding gown covered in the finest diamonds onto a custom-designed truck.
Lex stood at the forefront, his gaze flicking back frequently to ensure the staff were handling the gown with care.
“Be careful with that!” he ordered sharply. “That gown was flown in from Paris. A custom-made order specifically for Tara. If it gets so much as a scratch and she gets upset, all of you will face severe consequences.”
As he turned, his eyes locked on me. In an instant, he strode over and swept me off my feet.
“Baby, what are you doing?” he scolded, his voice tinged with worry, “Walking around in flat shoes in this snow? Are you trying to get me worried sick?”
The crowd erupted into excited cheers as he carried me to the warmth of his waiting Rolls-Royce.
Inside, Lex held me close, rubbing my cold hands between his to warm them up. “I was just about to pick you up. Your wedding gown is here, the time couldn’t be more perfect. Let’s head straight to the studio and get our photos done, what do you say?”