Angela almost laughed.
Of course he did.
Raphael stepped out behind her.
Miranda moved immediately between them.
Angela touched her arm.
“Let him come.”
Raphael studied Angela.
“You are certain?”
“No,” she said.
“But I’m done having men decide what I’m ready for.”
They went upstairs.
Wedding guests moved aside as Angela passed.
She could feel every stare.
An hour earlier, that hallway had been the scene of her humiliation.
Now she walked through it barefoot, holding her father’s letter in one hand and the ruined edge of her wedding train in the other.
She did not lower her eyes.
Johnny was waiting inside the bridal suite.
His tie was gone.
His hair was damp with sweat.
The moment he saw Angela, relief rushed over his face.
“Angie.
Thank God.”
She stopped several feet from him.
“Don’t call me that.”
Johnny’s gaze shifted to Raphael.
Something close to panic appeared.
“You said this would be handled.”
Angela heard the words clearly.
So did Miranda.
Raphael said, “It has been.”
Johnny blinked.
“Then why is she here?”
The room became very quiet.
Angela almost admired the speed with which Johnny realized his mistake.
His face changed.
“I didn’t mean—Angela, listen to me.”
She placed the photographs from Raphael’s envelope on the vanity one by one.
Johnny kissing the woman outside the hotel.
Johnny getting into the taxi.
Johnny meeting Raphael’s man.
“You had plenty of chances to talk,” Angela said.
“Apparently you preferred negotiations.”
Johnny shook his head rapidly.
“Those pictures aren’t what they look like.”
Miranda actually laughed.
Johnny ignored her.
“I was trying to protect you.”
“By offering me to him?”
“I never thought he would actually take you.”
Angela stared at him.
That sentence destroyed whatever explanation he had been preparing next.
Johnny heard it too.
“I mean—I was buying time.”
“For yourself.”
“For us.”
“There is no us.”
