“Who are you?” Grace gasped.
“I’m not that poor little boy from back in the day, Grace. I got a great job at an art studio and worked my way up. That’s where I met the love of my life, Kitty,” he said, and hugged his fiancée tightly.
“Oh, pookie, you’re so sweet.”
Cam felt nausea roll into his throat. “You’ve done well for yourself in the last few years, Jimmy,” he said. “Nice suit.”
“Yes, I have. I’m not your whipping boy anymore, that’s for sure,” Jimmy snarled.
“It takes more than a suit, Jimmy,” Cam said with just enough smugness to set the man off.
“James, don’t let this man speak to you this way,” Kitty said, her eyes rounded in shock, and she turned to Grace. “Why did you bring such an unpleasant man to my party?”
“I apologize for the misunderstanding, Kitty. There’s . . . history between all of us,” Grace said through gritted teeth.
“You have nothing to apologize for. Did your mother know you were planning the wedding of a man who once attacked you?” Cam said, fury echoing through every bone in his body.
“What?” Kitty gasped.
And that’s when Grace lost it. This was all way too much for her to handle. She couldn’t do this. No person could be expected to act professional in this situation. Not even with flashbulbs going off as cameras snapped the entire scene for the world to see.
“Do you practice that outraged gasp, Kitty? You never were much of an actress when we were younger,” Grace snapped.
“How dare you!” Kitty’s claws came out as fire lit in her eyes. “Don’t forget who you’re working for, little girl.”
“Number one, I’m a year older than you, Kitty—”
“And a spinster, too!” Kitty shouted.
The entire room quieted as all eyes zeroed in on the four people in the center of the room. The sound of indistinct whispering filled the space as Cam wrapped his arm around Grace to protect her from these venomous people.
“You spoiled little bitch. I can’t believe I let my horrid mother talk me into doing this wedding. I couldn’t stand you from the first day we met, but you know what . . .” Grace paused as a waiter walked by. Grabbing two champagne flutes, she handed one to Cam and gave him a false smile before she turned to the rest of the room.
“I’d like to make a toast.” Her raised voice caught the attention of the few who weren’t aware of the battle royal that was under way.
“Grace, stop this right now.” Victoria rushed to them and tried to pull her daughter away.
Cam sent Victoria a look that made her falter. “Grace has something to say. Let her be.”
Victoria wisely took a step back.
“As I was saying. I would like to make a toast,” Grace continued. “To the bride- and groom-to-be. They are obviously made for each other. May they tie the knot . . . around their throats.”
With that, she clinked her glass against Cam’s and then downed the champagne. Cam was shocked but also proud. Finally, Grace wasn’t doing as her mother expected. Finally, she was freeing herself from the bonds they’d had her under her entire life.
“Each one of you has been nothing but a liar and a user in Grace’s life. We’re going to take our leave, and from now on you can stay the hell out of her way,” Cam told her parents before downing his own glass and taking Grace’s arm.
They turned to leave, and everything happened so quickly that Cam didn’t have time to stop it. With a wild screech, Kitty ran after Grace, grabbing her hair and spinning her around.
“Don’t you dare mock me at my own party and walk away,” she yowled before her arm shot out and she slapped Grace in the face.
Cam again was frozen. He couldn’t hit a woman, but he couldn’t stand idly by while Kitty beat up Grace. But he didn’t need to worry long.
“You pampered, spoiled little brat.” Grace didn’t bother with slapping. She made a fist and slugged Kitty in the nose, making the girl bleed all over her expensive white evening gown.
“Daddy!” the girl wailed as fat tears rolled down her cheeks.
“What has gotten into you, Grace?” Edwin Grier, Kitty’s father, scooped Kitty into his arms while he scowled at Grace.
“Had I known I was planning the wedding of this scum of a man, I would never have agreed to this,” Grace replied, fire in her eyes, but her voice calm. “He will use you and abuse you. Don’t think for a minute that you’re special.”
“You’re a liar,” Kitty cried as she tucked herself against her father.
“I think it’s best if you leave now, Grace,” Edwin told her.
“Gladly.”
With that, Grace turned and began marching toward the front door. Cam smiled at Jimmy—a promising smile, a look that assured the man he wasn’t finished with him. He didn’t move until he saw fear enter his eyes. Then he chased after Grace.
It was time for them to finish speaking about both of their pasts. They had no shot at a future while secrets still lay between them. Whether she wanted to or not, tonight they would be talking.
“Are you going to be silent the entire way back to Sterling?”
“I don’t feel like talking right now.”
Grace was still fuming, her adrenaline pumping, her nerves shot. When Kitty was gushing about her fiancé, James, she had never thought it could be the same person Grace had been stupid enough to have dated after he’d abused her.