HONOR ME

FIVE

ANDRÉ

She stood near the edge of the ballroom, speaking to someone I couldn't quite see. The lights reflected off her dress, making her stand out from everyone else around her.

Annoying.

That was the only explanation.

She was annoying.

So why the hell was I watching her?

I forced myself to turn away and focused on the bartender instead.

"Moscow Mule," I repeated.

The bartender slid the drink toward me a few moments later.

"Here you go, sir."

"Thank you."

Before my fingers could wrap around the glass, another hand reached over and took it.

I turned slowly.

Skyler.

Of course.

She lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip without a single ounce of hesitation.

I stared at her.

"Seriously?"

She looked at me over the rim of the glass.

"What?"

"That was my drink."

She shrugged, completely unbothered.

"I'm thirsty."

I leaned against the counter, folding my arms.

"That is possibly the worst excuse I've ever heard."

"And yet it worked."

I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped.

She placed the empty glass back on the counter and looked satisfied.

"Refreshing."

"Glad you enjoyed stealing from me."

She smiled slightly.

"You'll survive."

I studied her for a moment.

It was strange.

Earlier tonight, all I had seen was Pamela McCarthy's stubborn daughter. The woman who challenged everything I said and looked at me like she was constantly five seconds away from insulting me.

But standing here...

She looked different.

"You look really pretty tonight."

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Skyler's eyes narrowed immediately.

"I bet you've said that to every woman in this room."

I leaned against the counter.

"Actually, no."

She gave me a doubtful look.

"Right. Because you're suddenly a man of honesty."

I smirked.

"I didn't say I was honest. I said I hadn't said it."

She stared at me for a moment.

"You're impossible."

"And yet you're still standing here."

She rolled her eyes, but I caught the small smile she tried to hide.

A laugh escaped me.

There she was.

The woman who somehow managed to insult me and make me smile at the same time.

She reached out and lightly tapped my shoulder.

"Try not to get into trouble, Mr. Larsen."

"Is that concern I hear?"

"Don't flatter yourself."

She turned to leave.

And before I could think better of it, the words slipped out.

"Where are you going?"

She stopped and looked back at me.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then her expression softened slightly.

"I have somewhere to be."

"Where?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"Are you asking because you're curious or because you're worried?"

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

Because I honestly didn't know.

A small smile appeared on her face.

"That's what I thought."

She turned away again.

"My mother is probably looking for me."

She disappeared into the crowd before I could reply.

I stared after her longer than I should have.

Then I picked up another drink.

This time, I made sure nobody stole it.

But the annoying part?

I still found myself looking for her.

━━━━━━ ✧ ━━━━━━

I woke up to the aroma of Mother's signature French toast.

For a moment, I stayed still, staring through the morning light filtering into my room.

The second I tried to get out of bed, a sharp pain shot through my head.

"Shit."

A migraine was already settling in.

I ignored it anyway, got dressed, and made my way downstairs.

"Sleepy head, how are you?" Mother greeted cheerfully.

"Nothing painkillers can't fix," I answered.

I walked over and placed a kiss on her cheek.

"French toast?"

She pointed toward the kitchen counter.

"Coming right up, my son."

I nodded and took my seat on one of the bar stools.

The kitchen felt different.

Lighter.

Mother seemed unusually vibrant and happy, and I couldn't help wondering if there was some hidden reason behind it.

"You look happier than usual," I said, narrowing my eyes. "What's your secret?"

She immediately blushed before bursting into laughter.

"It's you."

I frowned.

"Me?"

"You're finally getting married."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"Mother, it's not like I actually want to marry Skyler."

"But I saw."

I looked up.

"Saw what?"

She gave me a knowing smile.

"You like her."

I nearly choked.

"What?"

"You were staring at her."

My eyes widened.

"You're talking about that?"

"Yes," she teased. "You couldn't take your eyes off her."

I looked away.

"Skyler is... different."

Mother raised an eyebrow.

"Different?"

I sighed.

"She's beautiful, sure, but she's also stubborn. Difficult. She's basically the definition of an ice queen."

Mother's smile widened.

"Your ice queen."

I laughed quietly.

The idea was ridiculous.

And yet...

Maybe I had been more obvious than I thought.

Because as much as I wanted to deny it, there was definitely something about Skyler McCarthy that caught my attention.

**SKYLER**

I pulled up in front of Louis's house and climbed out of my car.

We had agreed to meet because we needed to talk.

I wasn't about to lose Louis because of a marriage I never wanted.

When I rang the doorbell, it swung open almost immediately.

"You made it."

He stepped aside, opening the door wider for me.

I smiled.

"I did."

"It's been a while."

"It has."

I stepped inside and looked around.

"Did you renovate?"

Louis chuckled as he closed the door.

"Yeah. I finally lost my taste for antiques."

I nodded, taking in the modern furniture and lighter colour palette.

"It suits you."

He smiled.

"Thanks."

I took a seat on one of the sofas and cleared my throat.

Neither of us seemed eager to start the conversation we both knew was coming.

"So..."

I looked at him.

"You've heard."

He clenched his jaw before giving a short nod.

"André, huh?"

"Not my choice," I replied quietly.

Louis looked at me for a long moment before standing.

"Coffee or tea?"

"Water, please."

He disappeared into the kitchen.

The moment he was gone, my phone vibrated.

**Mother: Where are you??**

I stared at the message for a second before locking my screen without replying.

Louis returned with a glass of water and handed it to me.

"Thanks."

I took a small sip.

He remained standing.

"So..."

His voice was careful this time.

"Is it true?"

I looked down at the glass in my hands.

"...Yeah."

A heavy silence settled between us.

"You're actually going to marry him?"

"I don't want to."

"Then don't."

His response came so quickly that it caught me off guard.

He took a step closer.

"Sky, if this isn't what you want, don't do it."

"You know my mother."

"I know Pamela."

"And you know she never listens."

Louis exhaled sharply before walking over to me.

Instead of sitting beside me, he lowered himself onto one knee in front of the sofa.

His fingers gently intertwined with mine.

"Skyler..."

His voice softened.

"I don't want to let you go."

I looked into his eyes.

"Not today."

His thumb brushed over my knuckles.

"Not ever."

The sincerity in his voice made my chest tighten.

For a brief moment, I forgot about the contract.

Forgot about André.

Forgot about the cameras, the Larsens, and every obligation waiting for me outside this house.

All I could see...

...was Louis.

"Louis..."

"What if..."

His voice faltered.

"What if we don't let this end?"

I stared at him, unable to find the words.

He took another step toward me.

"Please, Sky."

His eyes searched mine desperately.

"I can't lose you."

A lump formed in my throat.

"You know I don't want this either."

"Then don't marry him."

"It's not that simple."

"Why isn't it?"

I let out a shaky breath.

"Because my mother has already made up her mind."

"And what about yours?"

I looked away.

"My opinion doesn't seem to matter."

Louis clenched his jaw.

"So you're just going to let her decide who you spend the rest of your life with?"

"I don't have a choice."

"You always have a choice."

His voice wasn't angry.

It was hurt.

He closed the distance between us and slowly intertwined our fingers.

"Sky..."

"I've loved you for too long to lose you like this."

Tears blurred my vision.

"I love you too."

The confession slipped out before I could stop it.

His grip tightened.

"Then fight for us."

"I've tried."

"No."

He shook his head.

"You've been fighting your mother."

His eyes locked onto mine.

"You haven't fought for **us**."

Silence swallowed the room.

"I don't know how."

"You don't have to figure everything out today."

He gently brushed his thumb across my knuckles.

"But don't ask me to walk away."

I closed my eyes.

Every part of me wanted to say no.

To end this before it became something we'd both regret.

But looking at Louis...

The thought of losing him hurt even more.

After what felt like forever, I opened my eyes.

"I'm not ready to let you go."

Relief washed over his face.

"Neither am I."

He pulled me into his arms, holding me as though if he let go, I'd disappear.

"I love you, Sky."

Before I could answer, my phone vibrated again.

**Mother: Where are you??**

I glanced at the screen before locking it.

"Who's that?" Louis asked.

"My mother."

He frowned.

"Shouldn't you answer her?"

"In a minute."

I slipped the phone back into my bag and rested my forehead against his chest.

Just one more minute.

One more minute before reality came crashing back.