5
The moment I heard his voice, I slowly opened my eyes. I met Liam Sterling’s dark, liquid green eyes, tender as a spring current. To
gaze into them for even a second longer felt like sinking into a delicious oblivion. The tall man held me steadily in his embrace. Up
close, his features were sharply defined, hinting at a touch of Middle Eastern heritage.
A collective gasp erupted from the crowd. “Isn’t that Liam Sterling, the only son of the Sterling Oil baron?” “When did he become
Miss Hayes’s fiancé?”
Liam, ever the gentlen an, gently released my waist, setting me back on my feet. He clapped his hands together. Immediately, a phalanx of black–suited bodyguards appeared, carrying trays of exquisite jewels, displaying them before the astonished guests. The moment my eyes landed on a stunning sapphire necklace, a thrill of surprise shot through me. I had fallen in love with that
very necklace at an auction recently, but it had been bought by someone else through a last–minute bid. Liam stood before the
crowd, a charming smile, playing on his lips. “These are my engagement presents for my fiancée.”
The crowd erupted again. “Truly the Sterling Oil baron! The value of these jewels combined must be in the billions!” Liam picked up the sapphire necklace and gently draped it around my neck, his voice a soft murmur. “Do you like it, my fiancée?” His warm breath feathered against my sensitive ear, carrying a hint of intimacy.
Just then, another stir came from the main hall. A team of bodyguards entered, pushing a mannequin draped in a gown encrusted with diamonds, siowly moving towards me. The dazzling brilliance of the diamonds instantly blinded everyone. Compared to it, the gown Skylar was wearing immediately paled, losing all its luster. Liam leaned in again, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. “It’s custom -made to your exact measurements. Go on, try it on!”
Liam took my hand, gently guiding me towards the room. As we stepped into the doorway, Aiden suddenly blocked our path. His voice was cold. “Willow, what game are you playing? Since when were you his fiancée?” Caleb and Jax immediately chimed in, mocking “Who doesn’t know that the esteemed Sterling heir was born missing a crucial part of his manhood?!” “Willow, marrying him is no different than marrying a eunuch!”
Skylar, who moments before had been gazing at me with envy, now flashed a triumphant smile. “Willow, aren’t you going to consid er your future? Even though the Sterling empire is richer than kings, but… but…” The guests below murmured amongst themselves “Yeah, have you heard the rumors about the Sterling heir?” “Right, they say it’s a congenital condition. What good is all that wealth if he can’t even produce an heir?” The three men blocking our path wore expressions of undisguised mockery. Aiden reached out to me again, his voice soft, coaxing Willow, I know you were just angry earlier, right?” “I’ll give you another chance. Will you choose me, or him? Just as I was about to make a choice, my father’s voice boomed through the hall: “Welcome, everyone, to the engag terment ceremony of my daughter and the Sterling family!”
