After the Auction, He Wants His Bride Back

Back then, I hadn't understood what that meant. Now I did, and in hindsight, the signs had been obvious.

Chloe was the woman buried in Miles' heart. I was just the convenient choice who could help his family claw their way back.

I stumbled out of the restaurant in a daze, my eyes burning, my parents' last bits of advice echoing in my head.

I felt sorry for them because I had lost my chance at happiness by choosing a man who didn't love me.

Since Miles didn't love me, he didn't care about my dignity or my feelings. He made me the punch line and turned the night I dreamed of most into the cruelest joke.

I walked home alone. Our place looked exactly the way I had arranged it, with candles and flowers and the silk nightgown laid out on the bed.

I covered my face and cried until the phone's ringtone cut through the silence.

"Aria, where are you?"

I swiped at my tears. "I'm—"

A crash answered me as the bedroom door flew open.

"Miles, Aria's here!"

A swarm of men poured in. My hands shook so hard that the phone slipped to the floor, and I crossed my arms over my chest on instinct.

"Don't be shy, Aria."

One guy swaggered forward, reeking of liquor. Later, I learned his name was Kurt Hale.

He spotted the silk nightgown on the bed, hooked it up with a finger, and smiled like a creep. "Miles said you needed a bit of an audience for your wedding night..."

"Get out! Cameras are monitoring every corner of this place!" I forced myself to sound calm.

Kurt only got more excited. He dropped onto the mattress beside me and looked me up and down.

"Playing the prude? Miles is with another woman right now."

"Come on." Someone snorted. "You already whored yourself out in those skimpy photos. Don't start acting like a virgin now."

"Virgin?" another jeered. "Miles put her first night up for auction. There's no way she's a virgin, or he would've never done that."

"It isn't like that!" I said as hot tears rushed out.

My best friend, Ellie Klein, shot those private photos for me, and I sent them only to Miles.

Kurt's grin thinned, and he reached for me.

Just then, laughter drifted in from the doorway. "Well, well, well. How could I possibly miss Miles' big day?"

It was Chloe's voice.

She swept in, took in the circle of men around me, and lifted a brow.

I couldn't stop staring at the hickeys on her collarbone. Our eyes met, and the smug glint in hers made my stomach drop. Could it be...

"Sorry, I'm late, Aria," she cooed. "My man wouldn't let me leave."

She brushed her hair off her shoulder, and my blood ran cold.

Miles' wedding ring was on her finger.

Chloe pulled out two drinks and handed one to me. "I missed the ceremony. Let this be my apology."

The men hooted. "Miles doesn't have the stamina, does he? Chloe can still come here and mess with Aria."

"You don't get it," another said. "Kingston Group is about to be listed. When that happens, what good is the Sterling family? Of course, Miles will toss them aside!"

I backed up until my back hit the headboard. I remembered the pills Miles had been holding earlier. Who knew if Chloe had slipped them into the glass?

"Take that away! I'm not drinking that!" I shouted.

They laughed harder.

"Aria, are you refusing me?" Chloe grabbed my wrist, yanked me closer, and leaned in.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "Miles already spent his wedding night with me. As for you... Are you worried I'll drug you? Aria, you already drank it. It was the toast you made at the ceremony."

My mind reeled. The memory of the ceremony came rushing back to me.

"Aria, let's toast," Miles said.