Cruel Fortune (Cruel 2)

“Are you crazy?” I blurted.

He arched an eyebrow. “Not in the slightest.”

“She is never going to say yes to that.” I threw my hand at the offending box. “It’s been a month.”

“I’m prepared to wait to ask her when she’s ready, Penn. I already am.”

“You’ve lost it.”

I couldn’t even fathom how this had all taken such a turn. Lewis could not propose to Natalie. Not in any world. This was a game. This was a piece I hadn’t seen coming. A rogue piece that was smashing across the board that I’d thought I was navigating with ease.

“Maybe you’ll stop bothering us now. You know it’s serious. You know I intend to be with her forever. Walk away,” Lewis said, dark and menacing.

There was no getting through to him. No way for him to see how utterly crazy it was to purchase a ring for someone after only a month of dating. After they’d just had a blowup argument the night before.

This was still a game. And he thought that ring was a checkmate. But I’d find out the truth. I needed him to think that he’d won. Think that I was bowing out.

“Well, fuck,” I said, running a hand back through my hair. I had to be fucking convincing. He knew me as well as I knew him. “I thought you were just fucking with her. I didn’t realize you were actually serious.”

“I am.” He picked up the box and set it back into his desk. “Took you long enough to notice.”

“Jesus.” I shook my head. “I just want what’s best for Natalie.”

“That is what I want as well.”

“So, if that’s you, then I’ll…do what’s best for her.”

I swallowed my pride and held my hand out. Lewis looked at it skeptically and then stood and shook.

“Thanks, man,” Lewis said. He still looked suspicious but also…smug as shit. Like he actually thought he was winning.

I had every intention of doing what was best for Natalie. I just suspected that Lewis and I differed on what that meant.

Part V

Surprise, Surprise

Natalie

32

Snow was falling lazily onto the Manhattan streets. A thick blanket of white was covering the roof of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The tourists wore heavy coats, hats, and gloves. They peered up at the beautiful neo-Gothic–style landmark with awe, stopped to take pictures, and gawked at the stream of wedding attendees as they stepped out of limos and traipsed up the stairs like it was a red carpet.

I shivered under my coat that wasn’t quite appropriate for a New York winter but had been fine back home in Charleston. Lewis stepped out of his Mercedes behind me. He radiantly smiled down at me. I knew he was pleased that I’d decided to come with him. It had seemed doubtful up until the point where my feet had carried me out of my apartment building and into his car.

Now, I was here, and I was frozen in place.

Entering that building would make a statement as much as leaving did. If I left, then Katherine would win this round. And she’d use her advantage for everything in the future. Leaving didn’t mean freedom from the Upper East Side. It meant surrender.

And I refused to stand down in this battle.

Which meant I needed to walk inside. To proclaim that I wouldn’t be bullied by Katherine. But it might mean this battle would turn into a war.

“Are you ready?” Lewis asked.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the church. This wasn’t just about Katherine either. This was about my relationship with Lewis. I’d told him we’d be fine, and he’d been nothing short of incredible since then. Under normal circumstances, being a plus-one at a wedding wasn’t a declaration of intentions, but it was today. And I still hadn’t forgiven him for what he’d done to get me here. Good intentions or not.

“Natalie?” he asked, cautious and patient.

I took a calming breath and then nodded. “I’m ready.”

We stepped forward into the throng of guests and up the stairs, and then we entered the enormous church, already half-filled with wedding attendees. It was a stunning building with pews for hundreds of people. High-vaulted ceilings were held up by enormous columns. The walls were interspersed with elaborate stained glass art and sculptures to the saints. At the front was a raised dais for the priest to perform the ceremony.

I shed my jacket as we walked down the aisle toward our seats.

Lewis’s eyes slipped to me. “Is that the dress Jane got you?”

“Yeah.”

“I thought you were going to have Elizabeth give you a dress.”

I shook my head. “I decided to just wear this one. Felt more…me.”

Sort of. Not bohemian enough, but at least I’d picked the thing out.

“You look beautiful.” He kissed the top of my head.

Etta and Charlotte saw us first.

“Natalie, you look great,” Etta crooned.

“That’s not an Elizabeth dress,” Charlotte noted.