I smiled through all of it, but the smile never reached my eyes.
The devotion they envied was nothing more than a carefully constructed illusion. Only I knew what filthy betrayal and calculation lurked behind it.
The words had barely settled when Julie glided over on the arm of a date.
"Hey, sis. Hey, brother-in-law." She leaned into her companion's shoulder with practiced intimacy. "Let me introduce you. This is my boyfriend."
Piers's smile froze. A sharp crack split the air as the champagne flute shattered in his bare hand.
He seized Julie by the arm and wrenched her away from the man. "Come with me."
"Piers, what are you doing?!"
He said nothing. His face was ashen as he dragged her away, leaving the entire room buzzing.
I had no interest in cleaning up their mess. I slipped out during the commotion.
The evening breeze on the terrace swept away the noise of the banquet hall, but it carried something else: voices, sharp and furious, from just around the corner.
"Weren't you the one who wanted to draw the line? So why do you care what I do?!"
Piers's voice was glacial. "You're carrying my child, and you have the nerve to parade around with another man?"
"So what? My boyfriend doesn't mind. He'll raise this baby as his own!"
"Over my dead body." Piers turned to go after the man, but stopped short when he spotted me standing in the shadows.
Something shifted behind his eyes. He glanced at Julie, then closed the distance between us in one stride and crushed his mouth against mine.
The kiss was brutal and cold. Revulsion rippled through me like an electric shock.
I fought to pull away, but his arm locked around my waist like a vise.
Humiliation crashed over me in waves. He was using me. Using me as a prop to provoke Julie.
Right on cue, a choked sob rose behind him. Emboldened, Piers pressed harder, yanking down my dress strap and shoving his hand beneath the fabric.
"Let go of me!" I snarled, but he only tightened his grip.
Then came the sound of approaching chaos.
Julie had brought an audience. A crowd of guests surged toward the terrace, her trembling voice leading the charge. "I saw a man drag my sister out here! Someone please help her!"
Piers froze. He fumbled to pull my gown back into place and stepped in front of me.
"Get out!"
The guests recognized him, and nervous laughter rippled through the group.
"Oh, it's just Mr. Stephens!"