Chapter 31

Leah

Nicole desperately attempts to fix her mascara, but the more she wipes, the worse it gets. “For Pete’s sake, how many layers did my makeup artist put on me tonight?”

“Here.” I wet some napkins and hand them over. “Maybe blot?”

Her hands tremble and my heart cracks for her. What happened on that stage wasn’t only dramatic, it was traumatic. I can’t wrap my head around it, honestly.

Nicole side eyes me. “You’re lucky.”

“I know.”

“Mason’s…” She shakes her head. “He’s going to love you with all he’s got. And he’s got a lot .”

I don’t think she’s talking about his money. “I know. And I’m going to do the same for him.”

Nicole tosses the napkins on the sink, her gaze fixed on mine in the mirror. “I believe you.”

I don’t care if she believes me or not.

The door flies open and Grace slips in. “Oh my god, are you okay?”

Nicole’s chin trembles. “Please don’t be mad at me.”

Grace hugs her tight. “Aw honey, I could never be mad at you.”

“I just ruined our families.” She sniffles again. “But I can’t marry Jackson. I can’t.” She holds Grace tighter. “It was bad enough to almost have to marry Mason .”

Grace runs her hands up and down Nicole’s back. “I don’t think anyone’s marrying anyone at this point.” Her gaze lifts to mine. “You really showed up for him out there.”

“And I always will,” I say, backing up to give them space. I feel like an intruder here. Maybe I should leave.

Grace holds her arm out to me. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do. When I don’t move, she says, “Well, come on. I’m trying to hug you both at the same time!”

Once Grace can snag my dress strap, she hooks it with her finger and yanks me in. “I have two sisters from other misters now.”

Nicole cries harder.

Guilt pangs my chest because Grace is acting so opposite of how she had at dinner. It’s a little confusing.

“I’m sorry for acting like a stuck-up twat earlier, Leah.” Grace rubs my arm. “I was just trying to figure out your intentions.”

“Your tests suck, Gracie.” Nicole pulls back and wipes her face again. Her red-rimmed eyes and pink-tipped nose make her look sadly adorable. “Leah’s the greatest. Mason wouldn’t have chosen anyone less than perfect to love.”

My throat tightens.

“Oh my god, I look like trash.” Nicole focuses on fixing her face.

“Here.” Grace digs through her clutch and hands over a tiny jar of makeup remover. “Just wash it all off.”

Leaning against the sink, I hug myself while Grace helps Nicole. Should I go now? Stay? I don’t know what to do.

Scrubbing her face aggressively, Nicole grumbles, “I just wanted to get this gala over with, go clubbing, and get laid.”

Grace shrugs. “Well, at least you made a ton of money for your new charity tonight so…” She shakes her fists in the air. “Success!”

“Psht. Yeah, and this will likely be the last fundraiser of this scale too, because tonight blew up in a bad way.” Her eyes well with tears again. “Oh my god, my parents are going to be furious. So many famous people were here and they’re never going to want to do business with us again.”

“Fuck them,” Grace snaps. “If they aren’t proud of you for all you’ve done in the community, then they can kiss your ass. They can kiss mine, too. And screw the famous fuckers. They’re not special, they’re just good at acting. Whoopdie woo. We’re all good at it. So, fuck them all.”

A laugh escapes me. “You sound like Mason.”

“Good.” Grace tosses her hair. “He’s a great role model.”

Grace and I empty our purses so Nicole can choose what to put back on. Between the two of us, we have everything she needs to look flawless again. “Okay, I’m good.” Nicole fluffs her hair over her shoulders and turns to check out her ass. “I’m really damn good.”

Poking my head out of the bathroom, I see Mason leaning against the far wall with his arms crossed and a grumpy look on his face. His features soften when he heads towards me. “How’s it going in there?”

“Good. She wants to come out.”

“Okay.” Mason looks left, then right. “Does she want to sneak out?”

Nicole swings the door open wider behind me. “Fuck no. I’m going out that front door.”

“Okay then.” He holds the door for us. “Let’s do it, ladies.”

Nicole rolls her shoulders back and heads out first. Photographers snap her picture and yell out questions that all lean heavily into a romance scandal. She handles it with dignity and grace, giving away nothing but not covering anything up either.

Mason puts his arm around me, and we walk out to another flurry of camera flashes and questions screamed at us. He remains polite and keeps walking.

“Leah, is it true you’re his fiancé?” one of them asks.

The answer catches in my throat.

How on earth did they find that out so fast? Or is it speculation they’re trying to confirm? Should I keep my mouth shut and head down, ignoring them? I don’t know what to do.

“Well?” Mason grins, arching his eyebrow. “Are you my fiancé, Princess?”

My uncertainty vanishes. Okay, wow, we’re doing this. On camera.

Tapping my chin, I playfully look up at him like I’m thinking it over. “Hmmm.”

The way he looks at me has my legs weak. The adoration in his eyes, the confidence in his shoulders, the humor playing on his kissable mouth…

More flashes go off.

“Yes,” I say with a huge smile. “I’m his fiancé.” Talk about going public.

I feel so alive it’s intoxicating.

Excitement floods the area, and more questions arise about wedding dates, where did we meet, blah, blah, blah.

“That’s enough for tonight.” Mason scoops me into his arms and carries me out of their range, and towards his waiting car.

“Holy crap.” I’m out of breath and didn’t even do anything. “Is it always like this for you?” Because I honestly don’t like it. It’s scary and claustrophobic. I’m also now going over every single second of it in my mind, to figure out if I messed something up or not.

“Not always. But tonight was a special occasion with a lot of Hollywood stars and politicians in the mix. I’m just glad cameras weren’t allowed inside for the real dramafest.”

“Wait. Hollywood stars were in there?” How did I miss that? “I swear to god, if I missed my chance to meet Henry Cavill, I’m going to cry.” I didn’t even notice the other guests at the gala tonight.

“Nah. Henry couldn’t make it.”

“Phew.” I hold my hand against my chest, dramatically. “A missed opportunity like that would have ruined this perfect night.” My joke falls a little flat. I think we’re both still shaky from the mess we left behind.

A lot of backlash may still come our way. And if the paparazzi do a little digging, they’re going to find out about Daisy Ren and that I was Mason’s maid. It’s going to make him look bad.

My stomach flip flops.

After Mason drives off, his somber voice sounds as heavy as my heart when he says, “This was not how I thought things would go tonight.” Silence between us falls like the first snow of the season. “You came back for me.” He rests his hand on my leg. “On that stage, where you would become a target for everyone, you still came back.”

“I told you, I know my place, Mason.” I squeeze his hand. “It’s right here, by your side.”

He grips the steering wheel tighter. “I’m so sorry they said shitty things to you.”

“I’ve been told worse.”

“That’s…” He strangles the steering wheel. “Not helpful. Now I want to tear the world apart and find every person that’s ever made you feel bad about yourself and flay the skin from their bones.”

“You say the most romantic things.” I sigh dramatically and fan myself, hoping to make him laugh. “I’m swooning over here, you big sexy alpha.”

“I’m serious,” he growls. “I hate that you were dragged into my family’s shitshow tonight. And it’s my fault. I brought you to it.”

“I came willingly, and I knew this wasn’t going to be easy for you. But I’m really proud of you, Mason.”

“Why? I was a petty piece of shit tonight.”

I hear the regret in his voice. But sometimes you have to sink low for scum to hear what you’re saying. It’s not ideal, but Mason’s message was loud and clear tonight. “You broke the cycle.”

He stops at another red light. “I feel like I’ve blown up my entire existence.”

“It might seem that way tonight because you’re hurt, and the pain is fresh, but you broke a very toxic cycle and I think you’ve set an incredible example for Jackson and Grace. Your dad, too.”

“He’ll never leave her.” Mason’s voice drops in a gruff whisper. “He’s trapped in a loveless marriage where she walks all over him. He must be so fucking miserable. We were just assets, not children to her. And I’m mad at my dad for never having the balls to stand up to her on our behalf.” Mason scrubs his face with both hands and sits at the traffic light even after it turns green again. “I just couldn’t sit back and let Jackson marry Nicole. It would make them both so miserable and it’s not fair. And to think Grace is also on the chopping block.” He leans back and shuts his eyes. “I can’t believe we let Scarlet run our lives into the ground over fucking money and power.”

“Which, again, is why I’m proud of you for breaking the cycle yourself.” I want to hold him. Kiss him. Take away his pain and heartache.

Someone behind us honks, knocking Mason back into action. He waves apologetically in the rearview mirror and drives forward. “I have no regrets.”

I don’t think he’s talking to me.

“I hope they see I did what was right and maybe follow in my footsteps.”

He’s definitely not talking to me.

“I hope they’re happy.” His voice cracks. “I want them to find their person. Like I’ve found mine.” He clears his throat again, and the atmosphere gets a little lighter. “God damn woman, I’m so glad I found you.”

“Took you long enough.”

“Right?”

We drive in quiet comfort out of the city madness. New beginnings can also be happy endings, I suppose. And I’m here for all of it.

“We still should celebrate.” The city whirrs past us. “Tonight was a good night. Messy, but good.”

“What do you have in mind, Princess?”

I open the map app and get us directions to a bakery. “It doesn’t have hours listed.”

“It’s probably closed, but let’s see.” Mason zips through the streets and barely slows down at the stop signs. I hop out of the car and dash to the door. It’s locked. Damnit!

I strongly recommend bakeries be a twenty-four-seven convenience for those who need a little sweetness in their life. Everyone needs cake—they’re the universal greatness. Want to celebrate? Eat cake. Just broke up with your red flag boyfriend? Cake. Pregnant? Cake. Bored? Cake. Rainy day reading smut? Cake.

Peering inside, I see movement in the back where the kitchen must be, so I knock loudly. A young girl cautiously walks out holding a piping bag. She’s covered in flour and icing. “We don’t open until seven am,” she hollers.

Is she already baking cakes at this hour?

“Please, I just need a cupcake,” I yell back. “Or a slice of cake. Hell, I’ll take a cake pop!”

She frowns and looks back at the darkened glass case at the counter. “Hang on a sec.”

Hope bubbles inside me when she walks away and comes back with a hot pink box. Unlocking the door, she opens it and sticks the box out for me to take. “This is all I have left.”

“Thank you so much! Here,” I hold out a twenty.

“No, no. It’s fine.” She quickly shuts the door and locks it again, waving me off before heading back to the kitchen.

I cradle that sucker like it’s a newborn kitten. Hurrying back to the car, I get in and present the dessert like it’s the golden ticket to Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory. “I got it!”

Mason chuckles. “How can cake make you this happy?”

“It’s not the cake. It’s you. Cake is just a bonus. A mystery bonus. I have no clue what’s inside this thing.” I pop the top off and we both look inside.

Dear God, noooooo.

It’s carrot cake.

Mason laughs so loud he shakes the entire car.

Fucking carrots in my cake. And raisins! I have no words. “I don’t appreciate the universe’s sense of humor here.” But I pluck that damn thing out of the container and hold it up to his mouth. “You first.”

He chomps down on it and starts chewing. “Mmm. It’s actually pretty good.”

I take a little nibble, pleasantly surprised that it’s nothing like I thought it would be. “Oh, this is kinda nice.” Flicking a raisin out of the way, I chomp on a bigger bite. “Okay, it’s really good.”

Mason licks icing off his top lip. “You’re adorable.”

Shoulders lifting, I bat my lashes at him. “I know.”

“And you’re all mine.”

My smile broadens. “I know.”

“I’m going to make you so happy, Leah.”

“I know.” He already does.

“Do you know everything?”

“Pretty much.” I drag my tongue across my teeth to get the icing off. “I’m well read. Ask me anything.”

“What are we going to do next?”

“Easy. We’re going home and you’re going to fuck my brains out.”

Mason acts shocked. “My God. You really do know everything.”

“It’s one of my many lovely and admirable qualities.”

He kisses me and says, “I know.”