Chapter 5 " Leroy Leighton , son of the Leighton family . " Dead silence . It was like someone hit pause on the whole room . Roland gawked at me , totally blindsided . " Demi , did you mess up ? Isn't your fiancé Jace ? How could it be LEROY ? " The crowd broke into a chorus of confused murmurs . No one saw this coming . " I didn't mess up . I chose Leroy . " I stepped down from the stage and handed Leroy the Mancini crest signet . He just stared , stone - faced . My stomach dipped . " You don't want it ? " Then - bam - a grin . " I'd be honored . Huge deal for me and my family . " He pocketed it, gave Grandpa a nod , and just like that , the pressure on my chest finally cracked open . Everyone else ? Total pros at faking it . They pivoted fast , tossing out stiff congratulations . " Oh wow , I always thought Demi and Leroy were perfect together - meant to be , really . " 1 Grandma's voice in my head went full eye - roll : " Yeah , sure . Weren't you just screaming about Demi being a simp like , five minutes ago ? Keep running your mouth - heaven's got a lightning bolt locked and loaded . " " Exactly ! No wonder she picked him . He's got that noble, mysterious vibe . Totally stands out . " Grandma snorted . " Didn't you literally call him a cold , boring wall nobody wanted ? Now he's Prince Charming ? Please . " Every fake compliment got roasted by Grandma in my head . I cracked up , couldn't hold it in . Leroy's brows pinched . " What's so funny ? " Some wild impulse hit me . I leaned in , slow , and said , " Because I'm marrying you . That actually makes me happy . " He sucked in air like he forgot how to breathe , ears going firetruck red . Grandma cackled . " Didn't think that kid would blush over something like that . " Same . I never thought I'd see Leroy actually flustered . He's usually stone - cold , sharp - tongued , always dropping lines that make me wanna tear my hair out . When we were kids , one of Jace's sidekicks jacked the hairpin my mom gave me . I couldn't find Jace , and I was too weak to fight back . So I just stood there , eyes burning , pissed and helpless . Then Leroy came out of nowhere - grabbed the kid , shoved him against the wall , and ripped the hairpin back . Nit up , ready to thank him , but he just sneered . " Useless . Jace is trash - you can't rely on him . Rely on yourself . " Ice water straight to the face . I bolted , crying . That was Leroy - mouth like a knife , but somehow always the one who showed up . I used to hate him for that . When I told Grandma , she just smiled and said , " Some people love you but don't know how to say it nicely . " Chapter 5 +25 BONUS Back then , I didn't get it . Now I do . Leroy had Jace figured out from the start . He just sucked at words , so he used that backwards , twisted way to make his point . I never once won an argument with him . And seeing him like this now ? Too easy to mess with . I leaned in . " What , you're not happy about marrying me ? " " Of course I'm happy . It's an honor . Just ... maybe don't stand so close ? You're kind of in my space . " His face stayed blank , but his ears were basically on fire . I reached out and pinched one . Leroy jolted like I'd shocked him , then forced his voice steady . " I'm going to the restroom . Wait here . " BIG SALE : 3500 BONUS FREE FOR YOU ! チュ