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"I need to know Please"

She stood up Took a few steps Stopped Then made herself look at him

"Because I could never love him the way I loved you"

He opened his mouth, but she didn’t wait around to hear his response

She fled

As she drove home, she allowed the tears to burn her eyes And she allowed the me-white dress hurt her vision, so she averted her gaze in theht touches she’d always iner shoes withthan even Cinderella could stand The dress fell perfectly away froe she was still able to conceal The venue was her favorite restaurant in Harrington They’d recite their vows overlooking the marina, then settle into a happy, cozy life

Her sto but a case of bridal nerves

A discreet knock at the door to the changing suite interrupted her thoughts The sales associate peeked in "Sorry, Sydney, but the groom is out here to see you I told him you wouldn’t allow him to see your dress Shall I tell him to wait outside?"

She forced a se was based on friendship, respect, and a cooal "It’s okay, you can send hi, but she nodded Sydney reached down to move her pile of clothes to the side and heard the door open and shut "You just couldn’t wait, could you?" she teased "I hope this won’t bring us years of bad luck"

"I think we’ve already had our share, don’t you?"

She froze Heart haaze to meet his

Tristan stood before her Dressed in a sleek charcoal suit, snohite shirt, and red tie, he cut an intiure The scent of the ocean filled the dressing roos Timber hair fell back frohts visible in the bright light Whiskey-colored eyes filled with a swirl of rage, and so that beat down his usual distant control and whipped at her in waves of male power A ht fists

He was overwhelly pure, pri to move closer and take him into her arms as she’d done so many times before

Instead, she locked down those round It was crucial to get him to understand it was over She had toohere, Tristan?" she asked quietly