Compromising Kessen (Vandenbrook #1)(69)

“It wasn’t!” she screamed. “It isn’t over until I say it’s over … I’m going to Daddy.”

“Jenifer!” Christian yelled then grabbed at her hands. “You can’t do this. Don’t do this, please. I beg you.”

She stopped in her tracks. “What will you give me in return?”

Christian suddenly sounded old. “What do you want?”

“Marry me,” she said quickly. “I truly am pregnant. My family can’t handle any more scandal. We have no money. You were to be the saving grace. Marry me instead of her.”

“I don’t love you,” he said icily.

Everything went still in the garden. “But you love her?”

It was the moment Kessen and Christian had been avoiding for days. The moment where everything would change for both of them.

Kessen closed her eyes in anticipation.

But Christian didn’t say anything. He said nothing.

All Kessen heard was the sound of her own breathing as Jenifer said bitterly, “That’s what I thought. Make arrangements, Christian. I’m breaking my silence if you go through with the ceremony. Your family and her father’s company would never survive it.”

Kessen sat dumbstruck on the blanket for several minutes before she felt Christian’s arms around her. She twisted in them as hard as she could and even landed a couple fists on his face before silently sobbing into his chest. “I hate you!” She shook with fury. “Leave me alone; just leave me alone.”

“What do you need? Tell me what you need.” His voice cracked with emotion. “What do you want? I can’t … I don’t know—”

“Nick, get Nick,” Kessen said, still crying.





Chapter Twenty-Seven


Christian ran into the ballroom to grab Nick.

Nick wasn’t happy, considering he had been getting friendly with some of the duchess’s cousins, but that didn’t matter to Christian. All that mattered was Kessen.

How could he have done that to her?

He was given the perfect opportunity to tell her how he felt; instead, he froze like a statue. The words were on the tip of his tongue—why couldn’t he bring himself to say them? And why did Jenifer have to show up and ruin everything?

He would rather die than marry her, but would Kessen even have him now? And what would it do to Kessen’s reputation and her father’s company? He couldn’t do that to her. She didn’t deserve it.

Cursing, he kicked the ground. He and Jenifer hadn’t even liked each other, or at least he hadn’t liked her. They went on a series of dates because his father pressured him to be seen in society. Jenifer was the type of girl who needed to be seen at all times; therefore, he always had a date, not that she ever paid him much attention. She was always much too busy flirting with other men. He never cared, because he never liked her. He assumed she felt the same way. Jenifer didn’t actually care for him; she was just using him for his title and his money—something he swore he would never marry for.

He took a deep, soothing breath. Clearly the woman was insane.

Pain slammed into his chest as he made eye contact with Kessen, fighting to think of what to say, a way to explain that Jenifer was lying or that she was mistaken. The man in him felt the need to calm all females around him down, yet the part of him that knew he loved Kessen wanted to scream at the injustice. As much as it pained him to admit it, he needed to follow through and marry Jenifer; it was the only way to protect Kessen and her father.

The idea made bile rise in his throat. He silently led Nick to Kessen. She was still sprawled out across the blanket, sobbing. He wasn’t sure if it was from shock or anger or both.

The only words that came to mind at that specific moment were not appropriate for Kessen’s ears. How could he screw up so royally bad? He cursed aloud. To think that Jenifer had come up with such a scheme. Furious, all he wanted to do was chase after Jenifer and knock some sense into her. Unfortunately it would make him look like a worse cad, considering he needed to be helping Kessen. She would never forgive him.

Before Nick reached Kessen, Christian tried to explain what happened.

Nick’s reaction wasn’t what he expected. Instead of telling him he understood and would take care of it, he pushed him with all the force of an American bulldog and swore.

“You blew it!”

Kessen scrutinized the exchange with curiosity.

Nick pushed Christian again. “How could you? What’s wrong with you? You complete and utter prick, I should kill you!” Nick lunged at Christian again. This time Christian didn’t move. Instead he welcomed the pain from Nick’s fist as it connected with his jaw.

Christian fell to the ground in a heap and wanted nothing more than to lie there and wallow in self-pity. It was done. He and Kessen were finished.

He only had one chance to make things right for her, and he was going to take it.

Without saying a word, he got up, dusted himself off, and went to find a strong drink. He would tell his father in the morning.

The wedding was off.

As he walked away the last thing he heard from Nick’s mouth was, “Don’t worry, sweetie. I’ll fix it, just leave it to me. I’ll make it better. I love you … I love you so much.” He heard Kessen’s choked sobs and knew this was his fault.