He hung up before waiting for a reply, cutting off his father's furious demands on the other end of the line.
The click of the front door unlocking sounded just then, followed by a cloyingly sweet voice. "Eric, the wedding's soon. Help me choose a dress."
Watching the figure enter, Eric remained motionless on the sofa, his eyes shadowed by lowered lashes.
Stella bristled under his gaze. "What?"
After a long pause, he shook his head, though his mind had already returned to that day when Ava's knees were burned to festering wounds, her body whipped bloody with salt-soaked lashes.
Back then, he hadn't understood his own feelings. He'd needed to protect the alliance with the Smith family. So he'd stood by and let it happen.
Now he knew who he loved. And he wasn't getting married.
He'd m
