GERALD

The room fell into a taunting silence, and her heavy gaze fell upon me. The woman I'd just called a Queen, backlit by the spotlight and clad in an exceptionally breathtaking black dress that I'd never thought I'd be blessed with seeing.

At that moment, I couldn't tell apart pretense from reality. If I had said all those to swerve the deduction of the crowd or if I really meant it. My heart gave chase, trying to tear itself out of its initial position as I approached the bug-eyed woman who was too shocked to keep her mouth closed. Rosaline's lips fell agape, and her brown eyes, reflecting the...