14
“Nick White. Didn’t I tell you?”
I shook my head vigorously.
Could it be? The “White” from my destiny file… wasn’t Spencer Whitehall, but Nick White?
Sadie linked her arm with mine. “Ooh, are you going to be my sister–in–law? My brother is a man of few wor-
ds, but when he makes a move, it’s a big one!”
I could feel my face burning hot enough to fry an egg.
“Little sister–in–law, my brother’s had his eye on you for a long time!”
But… but… I just wanted him to be my brother.
My father cancelled my engagement to Spencer. Mr. Whitehall beat Spencer so badly he broke several can-
- es. Not only was the engagement off, but all business collaborations with their company were terminated.
News of the impending union between the Clark and White families spread across the city. The stock prices
of both our companies skyrocketed. A true power merger.
As for Leo, he couldn’t seem to forgive himself. He locked himself in the storage room and refused to come
out.
I was curious. It seemed Nick White had been watching me for a long time.
One day, he came to pick me up from school.
He was leaning against his car, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit. For a moment, my heart fluttered. I was a
little smitten.
I ran towards him, but a figure blocked my path. It was Spencer.
I instinctively took two steps back, wary.
“Lila, can we start over?”
I gave him a half–smile. “If being the Clark heiress’s fiancé is so important to you, maybe you shouldn’t have
been so quick to place your bet.”
“Your only mistake was bad luck. You bet on the wrong person.”
I tried to leave, but he grabbed my arm again.
Chapter 2
“Lila! Please, give me one more chance,” he begged, dropping to his knees.
A man’s kneeling is never about regret or enlightenment. It’s a threat, a form of emotional blackmail.
Nick walked to my side and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “It’s not Christmas. I didn’t bring any gifts.”
I glanced at him. His insults were sharper than mine.
“If the Whitehall family doesn’t want to disappear from this city, you’d best not bother Lila again. You don’t want to fail at climbing the Clark ladder only to make an enemy of the Whites.”
When we got to his car, he tipped my chin up and kissed me.
The touch was electric, a current that shot through every one of my senses. His kiss was possessive, fierce, as if he wanted to absorb me into his very being.
Just as I felt I was about to run out of air, Nick pulled back. He gently smoothed my hair, then glanced back at Spencer, who was still kneeling on the ground. A satisfied, victorious smirk played on his lips as he watc- hed Spencer scramble away in defeat.
