Chapter 1 - EIGHT MINUTES TO RUIN A WEDDING
“You tried on my wedding ring?”
Brynn Foster opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Collin Prescott exhaled as though I were an unreasonable employee interrupting an important meeting.
“Mallory, give it a rest.”
I stared at him.
My fiancé.
The man I had spent three years loving.
The man who was supposed to become my husband in seven minutes.
“Give it a rest?”
He stepped closer.
“Brynn was curious. She wanted to see how it looked.”
I looked at the platinum band on her finger.
My grandmother's diamonds caught the sunlight.
“Then she can take it off.”
Brynn's eyes filled.
“It might be stuck.”
I laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because something inside me had finally broken.
“Of course it is.”
Collin frowned.
“Mallory.”
I held out my hand.
“The ring.”
Brynn hesitated.
Then looked at Collin.
Not at me.
At him.
Waiting.
And Collin, predictably, stepped between us.
“Stop humiliating her.”
My mother made a strangled sound.
My father went completely still.
I looked at the clock.
10:04.
Six minutes.
Then I looked at Collin.
“Do you love her?”
He blinked.
“What?”
“Brynn.”
I pointed toward her.
“Do you love her?”
His jaw tightened.
“Don't be ridiculous.”
“Answer me.”
He looked away.
And that was the answer.
I slowly removed my engagement ring.
The diamond had belonged to his grandmother.
For three years, I'd worn it believing it represented a promise.
Now it felt like a receipt for everything I'd tolerated.
I placed it in Collin's palm.
“Then marry her.”
The dock fell silent.
Brynn's lips parted.
Collin stared at the ring.
“Mallory.”
I stepped backward.
“Congratulations.”
His expression changed.
Not heartbreak.
Not regret.
Alarm.
“Wait.”
I looked at him.
“You're not serious.”
I smiled.
For the first time that morning, I genuinely smiled.
“Watch me.”
At 10:05, my father caught my arm.
“Mallory.”
I turned.
His face was pale.
“The agreement.”
I knew.
Of course I knew.
Keene Maritime had invested fourteen months negotiating a redevelopment partnership with Prescott Coastal.
Millions of dollars.
Hundreds of jobs.
A harbor project that would determine the future of our company.
And the entire agreement was tied to a ridiculous ceremonial closing clause.
If Collin and I failed to board together and sign before 10:10, the partnership expired.
I looked at my father.
“I'm sorry.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
His voice softened.
“Don't apologize for refusing to marry a man who doesn't respect you.”
My eyes filled.
“But the company—”
“We'll survive.”
He said it firmly.
But I saw the fear behind his eyes.
Keene Maritime was already carrying substantial debt from the redevelopment preparations.
Losing the partnership could destroy us.
I looked toward the harbor.
Then at the clock.
10:05.
Five minutes.
And suddenly, I remembered a man.
A man Collin had spent years mocking.
A man whose number I'd never deleted.
Someone who had once told me:
If you ever need someone to tell you the truth when everyone else is lying, call me.
I took out my phone.
Found his name.
And pressed call.
He answered on the second ring.
“Mallory?”
His voice was deep.
Calm.
Familiar.
I swallowed.
“Are you still in Newport Beach?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
I looked at the clock.
10:06.
Four minutes.
“Are you near the harbor?”
Another pause.
“Close enough.”
I closed my eyes.
Then said the words that would change my life.
“Would you marry me?”
Silence.
Then a quiet voice.
“Where are you?”
“Pier Twelve.”
He didn't ask why.
Didn't laugh.
Didn't hesitate.
He simply said:
“I'm coming.”
At 10:08, a black Rolls-Royce stopped beside the marina.
The door opened.
And Gabriel Lancaster stepped out.
Six feet four.
Dark hair.
Sharp blue eyes.
A tailored charcoal suit.
The billionaire founder of Lancaster Global.
Collin's greatest business rival.
And the one man my fiancé had forbidden me to speak to.
Gabriel looked at me.
Then at the white wedding gown.
Then at Collin.
His expression hardened.
“What happened?”
I swallowed.
“My fiancé chose someone else.”
Gabriel's gaze moved to Brynn.
Then to the wedding band on her finger.
His jaw tightened.
He looked back at me.
“Are you asking me because you want revenge?”
I hesitated.
Then answered honestly.
“Partly.”
Gabriel nodded.
“And because your company needs the closing?”
“Yes.”
He studied me.
Then said:
“Mallory, I won't marry you to punish another man.”
My heart sank.
But he continued.
“I'll marry you if you understand what you're choosing.”
I stared.
He held out his hand.
“No promises you don't mean. No pretending we're in love. No surrendering your independence.”
My throat tightened.
“And the company?”
“I'll help you protect it. But we do it legally, with proper agreements.”
I looked at the clock.
10:09.
One minute.
Then I placed my hand in his.
“Okay.”
Gabriel smiled faintly.
“Okay.”
Behind us, Collin shouted:
“Gabriel!”
Gabriel didn't turn.
Collin stormed toward us.
“What the hell do you think you're doing?”
Gabriel looked at me.
Then calmly answered:
“Something you should have done a long time ago.”
Collin's face darkened.
“And what's that?”
May you like
Gabriel took my hand.
“Choosing Mallory.”
