Chapter 54

Nathaniel walked away, his broad shoulders tense beneath his tailored suit.

"Wait!" Harrison called out, hurrying after him.

The Velvet Lounge was emptying as the night wound down. Gabrielle adjusted her purse while Alexander turned to Harrison with a grateful smile.

"Harrison, I owe you for earlier."

Harrison shook her head. The staged kiss had been clever - Alexander had only pressed his fingers to his own lips while cradling her face. But the illusion had been perfect.

She smirked. "Consider us even for that skincare favor."

Before Alexander could respond, Penelope's sharp voice cut through the dim lighting. "Alexander, stop!"

Harrison turned to see her cousin storming toward them.

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "Ms. Whitmore? Something wrong?"

Penelope's glare could have melted steel as she pointed at Harrison. "Don't let this snake fool you! I'm here to reveal her true colors!"

Harrison's expression remained impassible. She'd expected this move from Penelope.

Alexander crossed his arms. "Enlighten me."

"Alexander, do you know who Mrs. Falcon really is? It's Harrison!"

Alexander stilled, his gaze snapping to Harrison.

"Three years ago, Nathaniel became comatose after that accident. This country bumpkin swooped in and married him for his money! She's the unwanted wife Nathaniel never even touched! Tell me you're not actually interested in your best friend's discarded trash!"

Just then, Nathaniel and Isabella approached.

Harrison's eyes immediately found the stark white bandages wrapping Nathaniel's right hand.

When had that happened? His hands had been fine in the restroom earlier.

Isabella smirked at Alexander. "Penelope's right. Harrison is Nathaniel's wife - Mrs. Falcon. Surely you don't want someone else's leftovers?"

The dim lighting shadowed Nathaniel's chiseled features, but Harrison caught the mocking glint in his eyes as they met hers.

She understood. He'd made his position clear at Rosewood Manor - Alexander wouldn't inherit his castoffs.

Like Isabella and Penelope, Nathaniel was waiting to watch her humiliation when Alexander rejected her.

Alexander turned to Harrison. "Is this true?"

She met his gaze squarely. "Yes."

Penelope crowed triumphantly. "See? She admits it!"

Isabella sneered. "What else could she say?"

To everyone's shock, Alexander's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Actually... I'd already figured that out."

What?

Both women froze.

Alexander addressed Nathaniel directly. "Nathaniel, I've known about your relationship with Harrison for a while now. That actually... reassures me."

Reassures him? What game was Alexander playing?

Isabella and Penelope exchanged confused glances. This wasn't how tonight was supposed to go. Harrison - the backwoods nobody - wasn't supposed to capture Alexander's attention. They needed to stop this!

Harrison belonged in whatever hick town she'd crawled from. Once Alexander learned she was Nathaniel's unwanted wife, he'd drop her instantly.

They were waiting for her downfall.

But something was wrong. The script had flipped.

"Nathaniel, I know you love Isabella. But since you have no interest in Harrison... may I officially pursue her from now on?"

Alexander reached for Harrison's hand, his fingers gently enveloping hers.

"Nathaniel... I have feelings for Harrison. I want to be with her."