I looked up at the bright manor-like structure in front of us. It reached high, its long-pointed peaks looking sharp enough to gut the sky. The windows were large, and light bled out from them, splashing onto the garden below. They’d been recently washed, the evidence in how crystal clear they were, allowing us a perfect view of the art inside. There was a line of paparazzi and journalists, their cameras flashing as couples entered the long stone staircase up to the door.

Each and every couple was posing for the cameras with blinding smiles. I was ninety percent sure that more than a few of the people here were actual royals from small European countries.

Just like us, the girls were dressed to the nines in shimmery gowns that sparkled with each flash, while the men were dressed in tuxes and had their hair pushed back.

My heart lodged in my throat when people started to turn to us. As a child, I loved the cameras. Loved showing them my new dresses and twirling for them.

I had turned into an attention-seeker from the very moment I found out people only cared when you made noise.

Maybe it was because Father and Mother were always so busy, always in their heads, and the only way to get them out of it was by being loud.

That changed after the fallout. All I wanted was to disappear into the background in hopes no one would look twice at me for fear that they might find out exactly what my family had done.

Just like the nurses at the hospital. My reputation had a life of its own and was constantly haunting me, making sure I was painfully reminded of everything the moment I started to forget.

“Smile for the cameras, baby,” Warren whispered, his hot breath brushing across my face. He was almost close enough to kiss. The moment in the room came slamming back into me.

I almost gave in.

Even now, I couldn’t stop my head from turning to him, our lips just a breath away. My eyes lingered on them before I met his gaze from under my lashes.

His eyes were already on my lips as if he was thinking the same thing before they slowly met mine again. They were dark, and his pupils were dilated, just like that night.

Need slammed into me so hard, I had to hold my breath to keep from letting out a shaky exhale that would one hundred percent tell Warren exactly what I was thinking.

How could something as simple as a kiss feel so… forbidden? So exciting? So tempting?

Flashes of light attacked us, everyone trying to take advantage of getting the first glimpse at Warren’s new romantic interest.

I just wished it had stayed that way.

The yells started almost instantly, and I pulled away from our intense stare.

“Is that… Addison Mercer?”