Chapter 34


    Can


    The man standing in front of me was my ex–boyfriend, Can Garrod, He barely changed during those


    three years I hadn‘t seen him, but at that moment, I finally saw him without his fake mask of modesty,


    dressed in an expensive dark navy suit and ck shirt. Aside from his rich – boy attire, he had the same


    sleeklybed pale–blond hair and icy–blue eyes that gave a disturbing stare. One corner of his thin


    lips was curled into a vicious smirk, as his eyes went through my length. “I have to admit that I‘m


    impressed. You used to swear that you hated money, and now you are here, in the crown of Manhattan‘s


    richest... Isn‘t that a hypocrisy?” He chuckled, his eyes lustfully measuring my curves. I hated his eyes


    on me. I felt as if my body was being evaluated by him. I could see he enjoyed the view, while I found the


    view of him nauseating.


    “I was invited here,” I squeezed through my clenched throat. “Oh, really? Now, that‘s interesting. Care to


    say who invited you?” Can‘s amusement grew by the second


    His voice carried a strangemand, one I had known from the time we were together. Chills ran down


    my spine. The love I‘d had for him turned into hatred a long time ago, but even now I could feel the leash


    he once ced on my neck.


    I took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. “I was invited here by Mr. Augustus Winton,” I replied


    confidently.


    Can stepped back, looking at me in shock. “That‘s impossible...” he muttered. “I‘m telling the truth,” I


    said, clenching my fist. “Now, would you excuse me, I need to find


    “You‘re not going anywhere!” Callen forcefully grabbed my wrist. “Tell me, how did you get in here?!”


    “I came here with my fiancé!” I spat. “Now, let go of me, or I won‘t mind causing a big scene at this party.”


    I red at him, struggling to release my wrist.


    “Fiancé?!” He burst out into coldughter before looking me up and down again. “Oh... Now I get it. You


    sneaked in here to look for a rich husband, one that could take care of your petty financial problems!”


    I stared into his eyes filled with mockery and wondered how I could ever love someone like him. He knew


    everything about my Grandma and my situation, and yet he dared to call it ” petty financial problems“?!


    “Screw you, Can!” I hissed, still fighting against his grip on my hand. He leaned over me. “You belong


    to me, Cora. I don‘t know how you got here, but since you are here, I have a proposition for you: you still


    look quite fuckable, so entertain me for a month, and if you do well, I will give you the money you


    wanted for your grandmother‘s treatment.”


    Can


    His voice felt like a sword piercing my chest. My blood boiled while my eyes filled with tears. The mix of


    emotions I felt was too hard to contain. He wanted me to sell my body to him as if I was a money–lusting


    slut. It might have been the lowest move he made, but then this bastard even mentioned my


    grandmother! That threw me off the edge. I closed my watery eyes, fisted my free hand, and swung it,


    aiming at Can‘s face. Just when I was expecting to feel a hard impact, I felt someone‘s palm tightly


    wrapping my fist. I opened my eyes and saw Aren, blocking me an inch away from Can‘s jaw.


    “Don‘t hurt yourself, honey,” Aren said firmly, forcing me to lower my hand.


    I nced at him, startled as he turned toward Can with zing eyes. “Let her go.” His icy words


    carried an undeniable threat. Can clenched his teeth and nonchntly uncurled his fingers from my


    wrist. “Hello, Brother,” he said with a thin smile.


    I gasped. What was it he said?! No... this couldn‘t be right. My ex–boyfriend‘s name was Garrod. Why


    would he have anything to do with Aren?!


    “B–brother?” I looked at Aren, shaking my head and praying that he would tell me that this was just one


    of Can‘s sick jokes.


    Aren stood beside me, possessively putting his hand around my waist before shooting Can a


    murderous re. “You weren‘t supposed to be here, Can.”


    My head started to spin. Aren didn‘t deny it. Still, I looked at him, hoping to get some logical exnation


    while I slowly acknowledged the situation I was in.


    “I couldn‘t miss my dear Grandpa‘s birthday, could I?” Can replied daringly before forming a wry smile


    as he looked at Aren‘s hand on my waist. “I told the old man that I would onlye if you were not


    around,” Aren hissed, tightening his grip around me.


    That piece of information felt as if someone‘s hand was crushing my heart. “Can is your step ?–


    brother... and you knew...” I muttered, pushing Aren away.


    I stepped back, my chest heaving and falling erratically. I felt betrayed, bared of any confidence I had just


    a few minutes ago. “So you really ended up with my brother? Congrattions, Cora!” Can sneered,


    looking at my painful expression. “But I need to warn you... I know that you thought that I was cold


    hearted, but it is my dear brother who is the coldest son of a bitch in the family.”


    Aren frowned at him but didn‘t even deny his words. I took another step back, clenching my fists as if I


    was trying to hold onto myself.


    “You yed me... again...” I muttered, trembling with pain and anger.


    “Cora... it wasn‘t like that.” Aren reached out his hand to grab mine.


    “Don‘t touch me!” I hissed, taking my hand to my back “There is only one thing I need to know: did you or


    did you not know that when your step–brother and I used to be together?”


    An ufortable grimace painted his face. “Not at first...”


    Can


    “But you knew it before we came here tonight, right?” I held my breath, waiting for his answer.


    He locked his eyes on me. “Yes, I did.”


    I exhaled in a rush, and as I did, tears started flowing from my eyes. “Bastard.” I turned around and


    started walking towards the exit.


    “Cora, wait!” I heard him calling after me, his voice mixing with Can‘s wickedughter.


    I had to leave this ce. I had to get away from this devilish family. I couldn‘t stand another second


    around any of them. I couldn‘t breathe. I passed the ballroom door and rushed to the hotel‘s revolving


    doors. Aren caught my hand as I stepped outside onto the sidewalk


    He pulled me away from the people still crowding outside the hotel, leading me to a more private side


    alley. “I was about to tell you, but I wanted to do itter. He was never supposed to show up in here. That


    was my condition before I epted my grandfather‘s invitation,” he said emphatically as always.


    A bitter chuckle left my throat. “You wanted to make sure that I would grant you ess to the Wintons‘


    mansion first, isn‘t that right? Were you afraid that I wouldn‘t do it, knowing that


    entering that house equaled meeting Can again? Well, you were right.” I smiled wryly as tears drew


    lines down my cheeks. “I would never do anything that could make me meet that inhuman asshole ever


    again.”


    Aren sighed. “Cora, you are right... I should have told you before, but seriously, I didn‘t think that meeting


    the guy who dumped you three years ago would be such a big deal for you.”


    Iughed humorlessly. “Wow... I didn‘t think that was possible, but you might even be worse than him!”


    Aren let go of my hand, a tiny hint of guilt surfacing in his expression. “Fine, I admit that I could have


    handled it better...”


    “I didn‘t need you to handle anything... If you‘ve told me before, I would havee here prepared to see


    him, and he wouldn‘t have...” My voice cracked and my body started to shiver. “You didn‘t even let me hit


    that bastard...” I muttered weakly.


    “I prevented you from causing an unnecessary scene,” he said curtly.


    I gritted my teeth. “He insulted me.”


    He looked at me with his eyes cold and emotionless. “It doesn‘t matter. You need to learn how to smile at


    your enemies out in the open just so you can attack them when the time and ce are right.”


    I rubbed the painful center of my chest. “You said that I could count on you... You said that you would


    protect me…”


    “He wasn‘t supposed to be here, and I know nothing about your rtionship that I could truly use against


    him. If you could tell me something, then maybe next time–”


    “I can‘t do this…” I breathed out, my heart hammering against my chest. “You don‘t understand


    how hard this is for me....”


    3/4


    Can


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Aren stepped forward and grabbed my arms. “Then help me understand.”


    “I need some time alone,” I mumbled, lowering my gaze. “Don‘t follow me.” I yanked his hands off of me


    and stepped closer to the curb to wave for a taxi.


    I registered that Aren stopped right behind me, but I couldn‘t stand to look him in the eyes. As the cab


    pulled over, I got inside and left Aren behind. I told the taxi driver to get me to one of the nearest hotels


    that I could afford with my own money.


    I surely caught everyone‘s attention, walking into the 1–star hotel‘s reception hall in a golden dress worth


    over $20 000. The male receptionist stared at me with a curious smile as he gave me my key. I couldn‘t


    care less, even if there was a group of paparazzi shooting pictures around me...


    The adrenalin buzzing in my veins lessened only when I entered the room and closed the door. I


    copsed onto the floor and started crying.