Paige stomped out of her mom’s bce/b, fuming band /bcursing all the way.

    They’re all just a bunch of cowards, she thought bitterly.

    “Are you Paige! bAiden’s /bsister and Sienna’s aunt?” ba /bvoice called out.

    A sleek, understated luxury car pulled up beside her. Paige looked up instinctively, and her breath caught in her throat when she bsaw /bthe face.

    “Who

    o are byou/b?” she asked, her voice trembling.

    Tm her best friend. Hop in, we need to talk,” the person replied.

    The Quinn family’s party.

    ire grabbed Amber, bpulling /bher toward the dance floor, and shot Jaxon a look, clearly telling him to go invite her.

    Jaxon, dressed in a crisp suit, looked a bit awkward, his charming face tinged with embarrassment. He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and walked over to Amber in her elegant white gown.

    “Amber, would you dance with me?” he asked, his voice ba /blittle unsteady.

    Amber bit into the cherry on her cake, her beautiful eyes fluttering with a hint of shyness. “Me? But I’m really not that good at dancing

    “It’s fine, I can teach you, Jaxon said, trying to sound reassuring.

    ire, standing to the side, gave Amber a little push. “Oh, just go. School’s about to start, and nights like this don’te oftenb. /b

    “ire, L…” Amber hesitated, her voice trailing off.

    In the end, Amber took Jaxon’s hand and let him lead her onto the bdance /bfloor.

    ire smiled, looking like someone who just got her daily dose of shipping fuel. ‘Honestly, love is bonly /bfun when you’re watching other people date, she thought.

    b‘/bSunny college boy vs. adorable sweetie, ire squealed inwardly.

    “Oh my bgod/b, I’m going to ship this couple so hard, bshe /badded, practically vibrating with excitement.

    ire was grinning from ear to ear, watching the two of them, when suddenly, a face as dark as ink appeared in her line bof /bsight,

    bire /bjumped in fright. Instinctively, she btook /ba step back.

    “Mr. Mr. Grant

    Hudson’s face was as dark as a thundercloud, and he just bstared /bbat /bire bin /bsilence.

    ire felt her scalp tingle. She was just about toe up with an excuse to make a run for it when Hudson spoke up.

    “bMiss /bQuinn, you breally /blike ying matchmaker, don’t you?” he said, bhis /bvoice low and dangerous.

    bire /bdidn’t bdare /badmit it. She shook her head quickly, forcing a nervous smile. “No, no, Mr. Grant, I actually have something to take care of, so I’ll just. I’ll be going now.”

    1 need to get bout /bof here, bfast/b, she bthought. /b

    “Stop bright /bthere! bMiss /bQuinn, I’m asking you bto /bdance. You wouldn’t dare say no, would you?” Mr. Grant said, his voice cold andmanding

    ire felt a chill run down her spine, goosebumps popping bup /ball over. ‘Can I even say no?‘ she thought helplessly.

    “I don’t like touching women. Put on some gloves, Mr. Grant bsaid /btly.

    ire was speechless. ‘Seriously? If you don’t want to touch me, then don’t ask me in the first ce, she grumbled inwardly.

    “Who even wears gloves while dancing? Is he nuts or something” she added silently.

    “Fine, I’ll put them on,” ire muttered, giving in.

    She followed him onto the dance bfloor/b. ‘Honestly, was this even dancing! There was enough space between them for a whole other person! ire screamed inwardly.

    ‘Maybe he breally /bis crazy. ire thought to herself, rolling her eyes.

    b“/bTotal nutcaseb!/bb” /bshe grumbled inwardly.

    Meanwhile, Hudson locked his gaze on Amber, his eyes narrowing as he saw Jaxon’s hands wrapped around her waist. Without warning, he grabbed ire and dragged her quickly across the dance floor.

    bire /bstumbled, nearly losing her bnce. She was just about to protest when Hudson abruptly pushed her aside.

    The next second, the person standing bin /bfront of her was bJaxon/b.

    Amber was bjust /bas stunned. She barely had time to turn around, and suddenly, her dance partner had switched to Hudson

    Hudson grabbed her hand, wrapped his arm tightly around her waist, and pulled her flush against him.

    “Hudson, you!” Amber blurted out,pletely caught off bguard/b,

    Hudson, facepletely nk, said, “Focus. Don’t bmess /bup my dancing.”

    ‘Is this bguy /bfor realb?/bb‘ /bAmber thought.

    AD