I let my gaze drift across his face, calm as still water. "Oh, one more thing. When you find the time, send our betrothal contract back to the Black family."
Lester froze.
He swung off his horse and nearly stumbled on the landing.
"What is that supposed to mean? Explain yourself."
I had no interest in explaining anything to him.
The only thought in my head was to get as far from here as possible.
Girls swarmed around Lester, closing in like a tide.
I seized the chance and slipped away with Gemma.
She squeezed my palm. "You don't want him anymore, Norma?"
"Everyone says he's a great hero who won the war. They're all fighting over him!"
"Why doesn't my sister want the great hero?"
I didn't know how to explain it to her.
Probably because when a great hero decides to betray you, he does it more ruthlessly than anyone else.
He doesn't just crush your heart.
And it would cost my entire family their lives.
A marriage that ended in execution and ruin was one I could not afford.
And no longer wanted.
I hadn't even made it back to the residence yet.
The news of my broken engagement with Lester Vance had already swept through Aurelia.