Page 292 of The Heart You Kept

ALORA

I step onto my back foot, surprised by his prediction. “That’s ridiculous,” I fire back.

Wait….

There is a scandal brewing…could his story have some merit?

“He doesn’t love you, Alora.” He twists his lips. “Not like I did.”

“Pascal, we haven’t been together for months.”

“Eight short weeks and you’ve already promised to marry someone else? You don’t even know someone in eight weeks.”

My eyes hold his.

“Did our relationship mean so little to you that you would marry someone like him just to get back at me?”

“This has nothing to do with you,” I whisper.

“Wake up, Alora. He’s going to throw you aside as soon as he gets bored, because that’s what Prescott does. Speak to his long list of broken-hearted ex-girlfriends; they were all promised the same things as you and look where they are now.”

“Pascal.”

“Edward Prescott looks after Edward Prescott…. But I guess you’ll find that out the hard way.”

I feel Philippe walk up behind me. “Everything alright here?”

“Yes,” I lie. “I’m coming now.” I look Pascal dead in the eye. “Goodbye, Pascal.”

“Is it?” he replies sarcastically. “It doesn’t feel so good to me.”

I brush past him and walk into my store, rattled by his accusations. I put my purse out the back and sit at my desk. My heart is racing and my face is flushed.

Damn it.

Why did I have to see him…. This is supposed to be a happy celebratory day.

Why did he have to put that into my head?

I know his accusations are utterly ridiculous because we are in love and I know that Edward wouldn’t do that to me.

Adrenaline pumps through my bloodstream as alarm bells scream in the distance.

Would he…?

3 P.M.

“Oh my god.” Jonty waves his arms around in excitement as he holds his phone. “Here it is, here it is.”

“Shh,” I mouth, and I gesture to Philippe, who’s reading his book at the front of the store. “Come in the office,” I mouth.

Don’t ask me why…. But since I saw Pascal this morning, I don’t want to be openly gushing about the engagement.

On one hand, I know that Pascal’s a jilted ex and I’m not going to let it come between Edward and me, but the truth is that it has taken the shine off my excitement.

In fact, it’s kind of filled me with dread.

What if he was right? What if this is all some elaborate plan to hide from the story about Hermione that’s going to blow up?