<spanng="EN">Roger’s POV


    <spanng="EN">I knew Elizabeth had lost weight and changed her wardrobe. But it’s impossible for the woman who was standing in front of me now to be Elizabeth. This woman was gorgeous. If she didn’t have the same color eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it was her. But when she spoke, I knew it was her, as impossible as it seemed. How has she changed so quickly? Have I really missed all her recent changes? I’m usually pretty observant. Have I ignored her in favor of Sasha so much that I missed her transformation?


    <spanng="EN">I watched her walk away, and I knew at that moment that I had messed up. Sasha wasn’t better than Elizabeth. A spark of fear raced up my spine. Dixon had been correct about one thing. Elizabeth had changedpletely. Sasha discreetly hit me in my ribs with her elbow and said, “Let’s go, Roger, you’re embarrassing me. Don’t forget, I’m the one you married.”


    <spanng="EN">My mother power–walked behind Elizabeth, trailing after her as if she intended to confront her again. Dad managed to stop her, but we all heard her shrill voice cry out, “How did Elizabeth even get an invitation to this


    <spanng="EN">event? How is she allowed to enter the event, but not us? There were three of them, yet you allowed them entry. Don’t try to tell me that she belongs here, because I simply won’t believe it,” my mother scoffed.


    <spanng="EN">“Mrs. Cook, their invitation included three guests. It is not our fault that the RSVP for Cook Custom Jewelry was not followed. We’re not to me for the confusion. As stated before, this has been an ongoing policy for thest three years. We do it this way so we have seating avable for all our guests,” the man at the door replied.


    <spanng="EN">“Well, that’s a stupid rule. You should have extra chairs avable for emergencies like this,” my mother replied.


    <spanng="EN">Again, Mrs. Cook. My apologies, but nothing can be done about it tonight. Maybe next year you’ll RSVP” he replied calmly. “Please step to the side, you’re blocking our Guests from entering the venue.”


    <spanng="EN">My mother whirled around to face me, “Roger, as your mother, I demand to enter the auction with you tonight.


    <spanng="EN">Sasha was standing in line, ring at me, motioning me toe over to her. She heard what my mother just said, and she was pissed. I hadn’t even done anything to make her mad, but she was very angry with me. I wasn’t in any hurry to arrive at the door with her and my mother. It was clear to me that Sasha wanted to enter to confront Elizabeth again. Most likely because she sold the vi. Sasha was furious about that and spoiling for a fight. I still remember the shame I felt when we went to the house and couldn’t get past the gate. It had been the most humiliating experience of my life.


    <spanng="EN">I found out from the new owner that it had been sold in less than a week. Elizabeth demonstrated her efficiency in selling the house out from under us. It was a power move to be able to make something like that happen. Was she so angry with me that she was willing to lose money on the deal just to get back at me? I’m realizing the depth of my mistakes now. I’m now bound to a woman who has proven over and over again this week that she makes bad decisions and refuses to listen to what I need her to do.


    <spanng="EN">I had already told Sasha that we need to handle Elizabeth with kid gloves. That we needed to y nice until could legally get the upper hand. Yet, Sasha prevented me from returning a day early after I heard about the legal warning. She continues to spend money as if she’s the one who earned it. Worst of all, she just got in Elizabeth’s face. It’s only a matter of time before Sasha blurts out in anger that I married her, and she’s pregnant with my child. At that point, I’ll lose everything.


    <spanng="EN">Elizabeth is one of the most intelligent women I know. She won’t just calmly step back. She is going to destroy me, and she knows how to do it. I might not have mentioned just how much she’s done to get mypany up and running to my family. But I was fully aware I wouldn’t be where I am now without her. She created the designs, provided the capital, and secured our investors. I felt a little guilty knowing that I’m doing this to her.


    <spanng="EN">She has done nothing but help and support me through the years. That’s why I couldn’t deny her when she asked me to marry her. I had to y along, or lose everything. But the way she looks now, I see just how big a mistake I made. I traded in a kind and intelligent woman for Sasha. What in the hell was I thinking at the time? I knew I was intoxicated when Sasha and I finally got together. But I was sober when I married her. Sasha knew we needed to leave Elizabeth alone until I got her copyrights under my name. I can tell now that Sasha isn’t going to make it through the two weeks before she confronts Elizabeth. I have to keep them separated.


    <spanng="EN">“You messed up so bad, big brother, but don’t worry. I’m going to swoop in and take care of Elizabeth for you.


    <spanng="EN">I’ll help heal her broken heart. I’ve always found her attractive, even when you didn’t. Maybe I’ll manage to take your spot at the wedding? I mean, you’re already married, you can’t legally marry her. You didn’t deserve her anyway, you never have. I’m d I got a front row seat to see what happened tonight. This has been the only time in my life that I’ve been happy to look like you. Only I’m the better version because I’m not a cheating jerk,” my younger brother told me, before smirking and walking back to where our limo was parked.


    <spanng="EN">No, it’s impossible, he wouldn’t do that to me? Would he? Deep in my heart, I knew he would. He liked her from the moment they met. If the wedding proceeds, I wouldn’t put it past him to stand up and interrupt. He would tell Elizabeth what I’ve been doing to her. He looks just like me. So if she found me attractive, she would find him attractive, too. The most significant difference between us was that he was much nicer than. me. He wasn’t a self–starter like I was, but he was a good guy. He hasn’t been a jerk to her, despite our mother instructing him to do just that. Clearly, he saw what I missed.”


    <spanng="EN">I’m going to tell Mom what he just said. She won’t allow him to do that. She, unlike Sasha, knows precisely what’s at stake here. I quickly walked to the door and handed the invitation to the man standing there. Tonight, my mother would be the better choice of the two of them. Sasha isn’t going to pass up the opportunity to confront Elizabeth. It would only cause my rtionship with Elizabeth to be even more fractured.


    <spanng="EN">“Sasha, I’ve changed my mind. My mother needs to apany me tonight. Although you are the new Director of Design at mypany, it would be inappropriate to escort you alone. I’m getting married in less than two weeks. It just wouldn’t look right, sorry,” I called back over my shoulder in a loud voice. I wanted my voice to carry over to Elizabeth.


    <spanng="EN">Sasha was stunned for a minute before opening her mouth to argue with me. I gave her a pointed look and said, “Just go back home with my family. Mom and I will find a ride home. We will discuss it tonight when I return.”


    <spanng="EN">Sasha’s anger was palpable. Elizabeth turned to look back to look at me, when the man at the door said, ” Wait, didn’t you both admit that you two are married. I remember it clearly, it was only a few minutes ago. Are you trying to scam thedy who just entered?”


    <spanng="EN">I leaned down and said, “You didn’t hear anything. Just let us through.”


    <spanng="EN">He stepped back, and I almost ran towards Elizabeth. My mother headed off to try to make friends with the socialites here. I released the breath that I was holding. I had made the best decision, as my mother would avoid Elizabeth. I needed time to try to calm her down and get her to agree to sign my document. As I approached Elizabeth, I saw two men speaking with her. I hated seeing how close one of them was to her. I stepped forward and pulled her into my side. “Why didn’t you wait for me, love?” I asked.


    <spanng="EN">She pulled away from me and asked, “Are you being serious right now, Roger? I’m having some serious doubts about our engagement. Especially after you acted like it was fine to use my designs after the contract had expired. I don’t care what you say; you were sent the renewals before the contracts expired. You’ve had seven months, and you still refuse to sign them. I’m not going to let you off. We were engaged, but now is just as good a time as any to end it.” I watched in horror as she pulled the engagement ring off her finger. She was being serious. The finality of it was causing me to have chest pains. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go down.


    <spanng="EN">“Take it, Roger, and don’te to me again. We’re done. It seems a new woman had caught you’re eye,” Elizabeth said as she held her engagement ring out to me. She nced pointedly towards the door, where Sasha was ring over at us.


    <spanng="EN">“Your new Director of Design seems to be upset. Maybe you should skip the event andfort her. She seems to have caught feelings for you in thest week. You should just reassure her. She might get angry and fly back to Paris, refusing to work for you. That would be bad for thepany because I’ve already put in my notice. I won’t being back,” Elizabeth told me.


    <spanng="EN">“Don’t misunderstand her, Elizabeth. She doesn’t know anyone, so I brought her here to introduce her to some of our investors and clients. You usually don’te to this type of event, but she and I are not together,” I managed to say. My heart was beating out of my chest in anxiety. “You know my heart only belongs to you.”


    <spanng="EN">It was easier to say that to her tonight. I was attracted to her now, and couldn’t wait to marry her and then sweep her off to Paris, I was excited to get her pregnant now, to keep her by my side. It wouldn’t be the tough assignment that I previously thought it would be. I studied her face. How did I not notice how beautiful she was before? I should have been paying more attention.


    <spanng="EN">“Do you want to sit with me at the auction tonight?” I asked.


    <spanng="EN">“She’ll be sitting with me, Roger. I’ll thank you to keep your dirty hands off of her from now on,” one of the men next to her spoke.


    <spanng="EN">“She’s my fiancé, you need to keep your nose out of our business,” I snapped back. I didn’t care which one of them said it. I’m not just going to stand here and be disrespected. I won’t be handing Elizabeth over, not without a fight.