Chapter 21

The Laurent family estate sat alone on top of a private hill, as if it thought it was too good to share real estate with the rest of us. The only way up was a winding mountain road that made my stomach do backflips. Lately, all anyone in Skyline could talk about was the elusive Laurent heir—as if he were the second coming of Gatsby, but with better hair. I'd heard his name so many times it started to feel like subliminal messaging. At this point, I had to see what all the fuss was about. Traffic on the way up was a nightmare—Skyline's elite crawling up the mountain like glittery ants in black-tinted SUVs. We weren't even at the top when Yvaine told the driver to pull over. She got out first. I followed, tugging my dress down an inch—not that it helped. Technically, I should have arrived with Ashton to sell the whole engagement thing. But he'd texted to say he'd be running late. Yvaine hooked her arm through mine as we walked up the rest of the way on foot. The dress she picked for me w