Heartless: An Enemies-to-Lovers Romance (Starcrossed Lovers Trilogy Book 1) by Jade West

Author:Jade West [West, Jade]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dangerous Press
Published: 2020-09-12T22:00:00+00:00

15

ELAINE

Maybe Harriet would save me from myself.

I sat there alongside her at Work Truths’ quarterly fundraiser and stared across at the tables around us. Faces I knew. Bishop’s Landing faces and Regent Country Club faces and celebrities hitching along for the tabloid ride. I was wearing a tight burgundy dress that showed off my cleavage, determined to at least make it as a family success in one paltry area.

Better make the most of it. This was the only way I’d ever please them. With my pale hair and pale skin, I looked like a Constantine. That was the only thing we had in common.

Harriet kept shooting me kind glances, knowing just how much I was struggling. I hadn’t told her the full extent of the Lucian Morelli story, but I’d told her enough. Enough for her to know that I was on dangerous ground, and it wasn’t the Morellis themselves that were the main threat. It was me, losing my crazy mind over the evil prince at the heart of them.

I hadn’t had a single sip of alcohol since the weekend. No clubs. No dancing.

There were a few seats still empty at our table, and my stomach was jittery from nerves. Sure enough, I looked across the room to see my mother air kissing the surrounding tables and waving to all her friends as she made her way closer. My heart shriveled in my chest as she looked at me, coldness glaring out from her eyes under her smile.

She hated me. She was ashamed of me. She’d given me up as worthless.

The little girl part of me wanted to leap up and run to her and beg her to hold me tight. I wanted to tell her I was trying to be a good girl for her. I promise, I promise.

Please, Mom. Please love me. Please.

But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t run to her.

It would hurt too damn much when she pushed me away.

She sat herself in the seat opposite Harriet and me at our round table, placing her champagne glass down in front of her. I knew who was going to be joining her. Lionel Constantine. My uncle. My father’s brother.

The uncle that wanted my mother. It was clear in his eyes.

The uncle who made his marks on me, when I was too young to know what marks were.

Shh. Secrets.

Our family was built on secrets. Secrets and lies.

Even the very sight of him gave me shudders. He gave me a nod as he dropped himself into the seat beside her, and I felt my jaw tense.

He was wearing a tuxedo with a navy-blue bowtie, and his brows were heavy and laced with gray. He was attractive even though he was fading fast. I just wished he’d fade a whole lot faster and say his farewells for all time.

I was almost considering giving up my efforts at being polite, but Harriet gripped my hand under the table before I could move. Her eyes spoke more than her words ever could.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.