CYNTHIA's P O V

‘‘Fine!’’ I let out a sigh of defeat. ‘‘I won't stand in the way of you marrying Tori any longer...’’

I gently rose up, but I flinched as I felt the searing agony in my ankle again. That drove Julian to rush over to me, and he assisted me in sitting back down. I couldn't help but grin as the thought occurred that his concern for me would remain constant. And if nothing else, I always have that option to use it as a weapon against him. Great!

I retreated to my seat and clutched my fingers around the bottom of his shirt to ensure that...