The Broken Vows: Zane and Celeste’s Story (The Windsors)

“Are you sure about this?” Ares asks, his expression as worried as Luca, Dion, and Lex’s. I nod, trying my best not to let their obvious concern get to me. The fact they’re here at all means they believe there’s a chance this could work, and that’s all I really need — a chance.

“Come on then,” Lex says, his arm wrapping around me. “Let’s give it our best shot.”

The air around us is charged with cautious hope and a sense of camaraderie I wouldn’t have found with anyone other than my brothers. Today, more than ever, I’m grateful to have them by my side.

Grandma looks up in surprise when we walk into her sitting room, her raised brow the only indication of any emotions she might be feeling. As always, she looks perfect in her matching black tweed skirt and jacket, her shoulder-length gray hair perfectly straight.

“Boys,” she says, her tone sharper than usual. “To what do I owe this pleasure? I was only expecting Zane.”

I step forward and take a seat on the sofa opposite her, my brothers on either side of me. “I’m sure you have a good idea of what brings me here today,” I tell her, my voice soft yet firm.

She sighs, irritation and resignation warring in her stern gaze. “Do enlighten me.”

“Celeste Harrison,” I tell her.

“No,” she instantly cuts me off, crossing her arms.

“This isn’t mere infatuation, Grandma. I’ve been dating her for nearly two years now, and I’m happier than I ever have been before. I want to marry her.”

Grandma laughs in obvious disbelief, the sound chilling. “Perhaps I am at fault here for turning a blind eye, thinking time would show you the rationale behind the advice you refuse to take from me.”

“She loves him too,” Luca says, his tone a pleading lilt to it. “We were as skeptical as you are, Grandma, but we wouldn’t be here today if we didn’t wholeheartedly believe Zane and Celeste should be together.”

Ares wraps his arm around my shoulder and nods. “It makes sense from a practical point of view too. If we merged Harrison Developments and Windsor Hotels, the resulting company would be unrivaled. Combine that with Zane and Celeste’s affinity with each other, and you’re left with synergies that most companies wouldn’t even dare dream of. Their union would benefit our family.”

Grandma rises to her feet and begins to pace. “Benefit?” she repeats. “It would destroy us.” She turns to me then, her gaze filled with something close to heartbreak. “Zane, can’t you see what’s been happening? She’s been using you to solidify her position as her grandfather’s successor — every single one of the strategic decisions she made had you written all over them. Did you think I wouldn’t realize? The only reason I let it be was because I was certain you’d catch on sooner or later.”

Lex tenses and shakes his head before I can. “Celeste isn’t like that,” he argues. “Have you ever met her, Grandma? She reminds me a lot of Sierra. Celeste is hardworking, smart, and incredibly kind — all qualities you’ve tried to instill in us. I understand that marriage is a big step, but if you’d just get to know her, you’d understand why them being together makes perfect sense.”

Luca nods. “She’s not her grandfather. The resentment between the Harrisons and Windsors shouldn’t extend any further, not when it doesn’t need to.”

Grandma looks crestfallen, her expression slowly morphing into that same old one we grew up with — the one that tells us she means well, that everything she does is for us. “Zane,” she says, her tone pleading. “She’s a Harrison, and I know you might find this hard to believe, but chances are she has ulterior motives. Perhaps the plan truly was to marry you eventually and gain access to our wealth that way, but I suspect her motives are far more unscrupulous. I cannot welcome a Harrison into our family. In time, you’ll understand, and you’ll thank me for it. I’m sure.”

I look down at my hands, my heart sinking. I’d hoped she’d hear me out at the very least, but the mere idea of us offends her. How would Celeste feel if we get married, and she’s forced to endure my grandmother’s scorn for the rest of our lives?

“I’m sorry, Grandma. I know it sounds like I’m asking for permission to marry her, but I’m not. One way or another, I’ll make Celeste my wife. I’d rather do it with your blessing, not just because it’d kill me to let you down, but also because I know it’d destroy Celeste if I go against your wishes. Regardless of what you may think of her, she’s got the biggest heart and the kindest soul. If being with her ends up costing me, she’ll never forgive herself, and I love her too much to do that to her if I can help it.”

I draw a shaky breath and rise to my feet to walk over to her, taking her hand as I slowly drop to my knees in front of her. “Please,” I murmur, both of my hands wrapped around hers. “Please, Grandma, let me marry the woman I love. Allow me to be happy, because I can guarantee that I won’t have a single day of happiness if I’m not sharing my life with her — even before we were together, my life revolved around her. You know that as well as I do. How often did I complain about her growing up? You, more than anyone, know how much of an impact she’s always had on me. That will never change. I can’t be me without her, Grams.”

She tightens her grip on my hand, her eyes filling with grief I hadn’t expected to find. “I’m sorry, Zane. Truly. I know it seems like I’m depriving you of your happiness, and I truly do see how much you love her, but I can’t allow you to marry her. We cannot join hands with Ed Harrison or anyone related to him. Your grandfather would turn in his grave if we did. I can’t let history repeat itself.”

Her eyes snap up, and I glance over my shoulder to find Dion stepping forward. “Please,” he says as he drops to his knees next to me. “I’ve never seen Zane as happy as he is with her. If you tear them apart, it’d destroy him. I can’t lose another family member, Grandma, please.”

A tear rolls down her face as Lexington, Ares, and Luca join us, putting me in front of her with two of my brothers on either side of me. “We’ll make whatever sacrifices we must if you’ll let him marry her,” Ares promises.

“We wouldn’t be here today if we didn’t love her too,” Luca adds.

Lex reaches for her and swipes away her tears. “She’s already one of us, Grandma. It isn’t just Zane you’ll hurt by ripping them apart. She’s as much my sister as Sierra is.”

Grandma sniffs and shakes her head, her expression hardening. “No,” she says, before looking at me. “You’re young, Zane. You’ll find someone better. It’ll hurt right now, but you’ll heal, and you’ll be better for it.”

I pull my hand out of hers and draw a shaky breath. “I understand that you’re within your rights to decline, and I respect your decision, Grandma,” I tell her, my heartache bittersweet. “But I hope you also understand that I’ll walk away from my inheritance and Windsor Hotels for her. Without Celeste, the money isn’t worth anything. I love you, but I refuse to live in the past when I can see such a bright future ahead of me, with her.”

Dion wraps his arm around my shoulder. “Zane isn’t the only grandson you’ll lose,” he says, his voice soft. “We’ve lost so much, Grams. You were there to pick up the pieces, but I won’t stand here and let you destroy what we rebuilt.”

“I won’t be threatened,” she says, her soft voice unnerving. “Each of you will marry a woman of my choosing, and I will never choose Celeste Harrison. I’ll gladly donate all of my assets to charity before I let her get her hands on a single dime your grandfather and I earned. You have one month, Zane. Walk away from her, or walk away from your parents’ legacy.”