Manu? She turned red. Then almost purple. She was shy, and nothing could change that. But sweet. So sweet I wanted to devour her whole.

It was my duty to make everyone who ever humiliated her regret it. It was her time now—Manuela Mahut, future Mrs. Hunt, the woman they said tried to take advantage of Fred with a fake test—to shine.

When the song ended—with Jimi as the undisputed star of the day—applause and whistles filled the air again. My little bunny smiled, dazzled. He seemed to ...