Chapter 7 Mara clung intimately to his arm and gently placed the invitation on our table . [ ] " Dex , Riley , Kieran and I are getting married in three days . You absolutely must come . " ] ] I didn't even pick up the invitation , just glanced at it coolly with a distant tone : " Sorry , I'm afraid we'll be busy . Dex and I are going on a trip then - we've already booked our tickets . " ] Hearing my words , Kieran let out a sharp laugh as if he was certain I was still lying . [ ] " Riley , I knew you were still throwing a tantrum ! " ] " You don't even dare attend my wedding - are you afraid you won't be able to control yourself and make a scene ? " [] He stepped closer , his burning gaze boring into me as if trying to see right through me . ]] " I'm telling you , you two aren't even engaged yet . It's not too late . You can still change your mind . " [ ] His words were like an invisible thorn , piercing both my heart and Dex's . [ ] I could feel Dex's hand on my shoulder suddenly tighten . [ ] A surge of anger rose within me . ] What gave this man the right to always act so certain that I couldn't live without him ? I took a deep breath and squeezed Dex's hand in return . Meeting Kieran's blazing eyes , my tone was calm but carried unshakeable resolve : " Thanks for your ' concern , ' Kieran . But I , Riley Cortez , never make decisions I'll regret . " [] 1 paused and turned slightly to look at Dex beside me . ] " Besides , spending these past few days with Dex , I've discovered … " ] " I think I'm falling for him more and more . "] Every word I spoke was like a slap across Kieran's face . ] But I was also saying it for Dex to hear . [ ] Kieran's face instantly turned ashen , looking as disgusted as if he'd swallowed a fly . ] " Falling for him ? " He acted like he'd heard the world's biggest joke , his voice full of mockery and disdain . " Riley , you're quite The actress : " [ ] " Let's see how long you can keep up this performance ! " ] He spat out these harsh words unable to stay any kuger . With a violent gesture , he grabbed the stiffly smiling Mara and Chapter 7 stormed off . [ ] After he left , I looked at the somewhat quiet Dex and suddenly spoke . [ ] " Everything I just said was true . " ] Dex looked at me , his eyes seeming to light up with starlight . [ ] I continued : " I've discovered that I've already fallen for you . Choosing you in the beginning wasn't the result of a tantrum either - it was something I thought through carefully . " [] " So don't take anything Kieran said to heart . " [ ] After I finished speaking , Dex could no longer contain his excitement and pulled me into his arms : " I understand . I believe you . " ] I smiled softly , sweetness spreading through my heart . ] Three days later , I cancelled our travel tickets and went with Dex to attend Kieran's wedding . ]] Not for any other reason , but to show him that I had truly moved on from Kieran and to give Dex complete security . [ ] At the wedding , Mara's face wore a triumphant smile , but Kieran looked grim , his eyes fixed on where Dex and I were sitting . ] His expression was dark , and he didn't even hear what the officiant was saying . Because he had just watched Dex kiss me , and I had shyly pushed against his shoulder with a blush on my face . ] ] A had feeling crept into Kieran's heart - maybe Riley really had fallen for Dex . ] ] But wasn't this exactly what he had always wanted ? So what was this unwillingness in his heart about ? ] ( 0 )