Chapter 1 Shane, Will You Marry Me

"Cole... something's wrong with me. My chest hurts so bad. Can you take me to the hospital?"

Cole Bennett tightened his hold on his phone, and his tone turned distant. "I can't make it today. I already told Sam to head over. Just tell him what you need."

On the other end, Kendra Todd broke into tears, and her voice came out thin and shaky. "I know you're getting married today. So this is it for us, right? We won't talk anymore? I won't get to see you again?"

Evelyn Fowler sat beside Cole, and she caught every word through the call. Her fingers slowly curled into the fabric of her wedding dress.

She had seen this play out too many times.

Whenever Kendra called, she always found a way to pull him away using the same excuse. Would their wedding day turn out any different?

The quiet sobbing from the phone made Cole shift, and he tugged at his tie with unease. "That's not how it is. You've always mattered to me more than anyone else. That won't change."

"There's nothing left for me anymore." Kendra's voice came out broken and uneven. "I never wanted to fight Ms. Fowler over you, but now it feels like I'm losing you too... It hurts so much."

He opened his mouth to answer, but the line went dead before he could speak. Restlessness took over him at once. He lit up his phone screen, only to shut it off again moments later.

Evelyn watched him fidget, and the light in her eyes slowly faded.

Even if their engagement had only been arranged, he was still the one person who had ever treated her with any kindness after she returned to the Fowler family.

Even though she knew he still kept Kendra close, Evelyn couldn't bring herself to let go. The small bit of warmth he showed her was something she held onto, even when it hurt.

"Pull over. Right there!"

Cole's sharp voice cut through her thoughts and dragged her back.

With unease settling in her chest, Evelyn turned to him. "What's so urgent that it can't wait until after the ceremony?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Annoyance flickered across his face as Cole snapped back, "Evelyn, why are you making this difficult? Something came up at the company, and it needs me right now."

The lie hit her like a blade, and the frustration she had been holding back finally broke through. "You're going to Kendra again, aren't you? What did you tell me before? You said that would be the last time you helped her!"

At her words, Cole's hand resting on her shoulder went rigid, and he avoided her gaze. "Kendra's not doing well. Can't you try to understand that?"

Shock washed over Evelyn, and she stared at him as if she didn't recognize the man beside her. "You're really about to leave your own wedding for her, and you still expect me to be okay with it?"

Trying to smooth things over, Cole forced a light smile. "Don't be like this. I'll make it up to you later. I'll give you a wedding that's even bigger than this one, alright?"

Evelyn's chest went cold at his words. She looked straight at him, and her voice shook despite her effort to stay calm. "Everyone in Slomery is already there. How do you expect me to stand there by myself and face all of them?"

Irritation finally showed on Cole's face, and his tone dropped to something cold. "Why do you keep pushing this? Can't you think about someone else for once? Kendra has no one but me. To her, I'm everything. She's not in a stable state right now. If something happens to her, can you live with that?!"

For a moment, Evelyn couldn't move. His words hit hard, and the chill from them sank deep into her chest.

Without softening his gaze, Cole looked straight at her. "Step out of the car."

From the front seat, the driver hesitated and glanced back, worry clear in his eyes. "Mr. Bennett, we're on a highway. It's not safe to-"

Before he could finish, Cole cut him off with a sharp command. "Pull over. Now!"

The driver stiffened at the outburst, then quickly slowed the car and guided it to the roadside.

As the door unlocked, Cole's voice came again, distant and firm. "Get out."

Evelyn lifted her chin and faced him, her voice steady despite the tension in her chest. "If I walk away from this car today, then there's nothing left between us."

Her eyes stayed on him, on the man who once told her he would stand by her no matter what, while her fingers pressed tightly into her palms.

This was the final line she was willing to draw.

Cole didn't take her seriously and brushed it off as another emotional outburst. "Just wait for me. Once I've handled things with Kendra, I'll come back for you."

Silence hung between them for a second as Evelyn looked at him one last time. Then she turned away, gathered the fabric of her dress, and stepped out onto the side of the road.

That last look she gave him made something in Cole sink, and a strange unease crept in as if she was slipping out of his reach.

He quickly pushed the thought aside. There was no way that could happen.

He understood her situation better than anyone. The Fowler family never truly cared about her, and she had no one else she could depend on except him.

Besides, with how tightly the Fowler and the Bennett families were connected, there was no chance she could walk away from the marriage over something like this.

With that reasoning in mind, Cole spoke without hesitation. "Go."

Still in her wedding dress, Evelyn moved along the highway as cars sped past her, and the rushing wind sent her veil flying wildly behind her.

A trace of coldness settled across her face, and she reached up and tore the veil away in one sharp motion.

From a distance, a red Ferrari convertible came into view, and without pausing, she lifted her arm to stop it.

The car came to a sudden halt with a harsh screech, and its side brushed lightly against the edge of her dress.

Only then did Evelyn finally see the man sitting behind the wheel.

Shane Bennett, Cole's half-brother, looked her over, his sharp eyes taking in every detail, and a faint smirk curved his lips. "Evelyn, are you trying to throw your life away out here on your wedding day?"

Evelyn met his gaze, then leaned closer without hesitation. "Shane, will you marry me?"