Just Before My Wedding: Trapped By My Ruthless Boss novel Chapter 118

Chapter 118

Chapter 118

OCEANS.

I followed Moon into the dining room.

The table was long, draped in cream, set with flowers, candles, and silver.

Fred sat at the head, Freda beside him, both of them smiling like this was the happiest night of their lives.

Jace straightened his expression. “Oceans.” He said my name like we were friends. “Glad you could make it/”

“Oceans,” Fred said warmly. “Moonie. Good. Everyone is here now.”

“Dad.” Moon said, going to kiss his cheek.

I greeted Freda, nodded at Fred, then took the seat Moon guided me toward.

Directly across from Kisarel.

on

Moon sat close to me, one hand still resting my arm as if she needed everyone to see that I had come with her. Jace mirrored her without shame, shifting his chair closer to Kisarel’s until his knee brushed hers beneath the table.

Kisarel stiffened.

I saw it.

Jace placed his hand over hers on the table.

I fucking saw that, too.

The room became very quiet inside my head; everything narrowed down to Kiss and how much further this bastard was willing to touch her just to prove a point.

Fred raised his glass. “I’ll keep this short for now because I don’t want the food to get cold. I’m grateful you all made it tonight. This family has had enough stress recently, and I think it’s time we start focusing on happier things.”

Freda

at Kisarel. “Especially after what happened to you, sweetheart. You scared us terribly.”

gave a small smile. “I’m fine now.”

“You still rest,” Jace said, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles.

My jaw ticked.

Freda urged everyone to eat, and soon the room filled with the soft clink of cutlery against plates.

Little, unimportant conversation began. Fred talked about family. Freda fussed over Kisarel’s health. Moon laughed at things that were not funny, leaning into me at intervals, touching my wrist, brushing her knee against mine, feeding everyone the version of us she needed them to believe.

I played my part badly.

I knew it.

But I played it.

Jace played his better.

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Chapter 118

He poured water for Kisarel before she reached for the glass. He asked if the sauce was too spicy. He leaned close and murmured something that made her shake her head quickly. He adjusted the napkin near her plate. He touched her wrist. Her shoulder. The back of her hand.

Touches I wanted to break his fingers for.

Pathetic asshole.

With the way he kept hovering over her, I half–expected him to ask her if she wanted him to chew the food first, maybe swallow for her too, since apparently being a fiance now came with digestive privileges.

Fucking idiot.

Across the table, Kisarel avoided looking at me for as long as she could. But now and then, her gaze slipped. Every time did, I caught it. Every time I caught it, she looked away first.

That was beginning to feel like punishment I damn well deserved.

Suddenly, Jace stood, and the conversation faded naturally. His chair scraped softly against the floor, and he smiled at the table like he was about to say something everyone had been expecting.

Kisarel looked up at him, confused.

My fingers tightened around the stem of my glass.

“Before we get to the business of the night,” he said with a broad smile, “I have something I need to do.”

‘No…

‘Fuck, no…

‘Not while I am seated here…

chanting in my head as Jace turned toward her.

“Axel,” he said gently.

I stopped breathing.

Freda’s hand flew to her chest like she already knew what was about to happen. Fred smiled wider and leaned back in his chair, while Moon made a soft, delighted sound beside me.

Kisarel’s face changed. “Jace…”

He took her hand and guided her slightly away from the table.

Then he went down on one knee.

Something so hot and violent it could as well pass for pure evil intention tore through my blood.

Jace reached into his pocket and brought out a small velvet box.

When he opened it, the diamond caught the light.

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He smiled up at her. “I know we’ve been together for a while now, but I never gave you the moment you deserved.” His voice softened. “So, in front of our family and the people who matter to us, I’m asking you officially.”

My jaw locked so hard that pain climbed up the side of my face.

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Chapter 118

Moon’s fingers tightened around my arm. “Oh my God,” she whispered, smiling like she was watching something beautiful

“This is so sweet.

“Sweet…

My grip around the stem of the glass tightened.

I tried to loosen it. I fucking knew I should. I could feel the pressure building through my fingers, and the fragile crystal straining under my hand, but that small bite of pain was the only thing keeping me at the table.

I was sitting across from the woman I loved while another man knelt before her, proposing in front of everyone I was supposed to impress.

“Will you marry me. Kisarel Harry?” He finally asked the question.

The glass cracked in my hand as if it was responding to the question.

Everyone’s attention snapped to my direction, and for one dangerous second, I forgot every reason I was supposed to stay

seated.

All I could hear was the violence in my blood telling me to stand the fuck up.

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