A collective gasp rang around the ballroom. Behind me, Jenny began to cry, and Sloan's murderous rage drilled into the side of my skull.
All I could do was stare at Stride in disbelief, in horror.
Me. Impossibly, he'd chosen me as his wife.
Stride continued to rave about me while I blinked out at the crowd as if they could help me.
Connolly, sitting at a table right in front of the stage, looked flabbergasted and bright red with rage. It had been Sloan all along that he wanted Stride to choose, and Stride had obviously gone against his wishes.
Why would he do such a thing? It wasn't like he loved me. Why not take Sloan as his bride?
"NO!"
The shout echoed around the room, instantly silencing the excited buzzing.
It had come from Aimes. He was charging toward the stage, his
