e
the space, no music played. Just witnesses and lawyers scattered across leat
ensive but ill-fitting, chosen by a personal shopper in a rush. She had clearly given them my measurements wrong, whether by accident or spite. No veil
" someone call
iant who looked like he performed a dozen weddings a day. My father and Bridget sat on one side. On the other side sat an ol
ecking his phone, st
r perfectly styled, tall and commanding in a tailored black suit. But it was his eyes that stopped me
screen, his thumb scrolling through what looked like emails. I reached t
his throat then Julian
sity. Just a brief, cold assessment before his gaze returned t
oday," the officiant be
wedded. None of it felt real. Julian's voice was without emotion as he r
I, Lena Carter, take y
words out. Julian didn't look at me. He studied a point somewhere p
it perfectly, which meant someone had gotten my measurements. Probably an a
he bride," the
ent. I saw something move in his e
n't be n
Behind us, someone coughed awkwardly. The offi
signed first, his signature bold and aggressive across the page. A
t Cassandr
eyes, forcing myself not to look
N
er documents with sharp, angry strokes that ne
ortably in his seat. Brid
od stood and shook my father's hand, seemingly unbothered by the revelation. B
shes or toasts. The witnesses filed out, and I was left standing in
sir," a voice sai
ded. "We'r
mall bag containing my few possessions and hurried after him. Outside, a
kindness, the ingrained politeness of someone raised with wealth. I slid
s the driver pulled into traffic. Beside me, Julian had already returned to h
something like dark amusement crossing hi
hands twist
ecessary public events, and maintain the appearance of a marriage. Beyond that, d
y lights that had never felt more distan
usekeeper, will show you to your room. Stay out of m
all I was. A si
lly pulling up to a towering glass building that seemed to pierce the sky. The driver ope
guard nodded at Julian, who strode past without acknowledgment toward a
on for the penthouse. As the doors closed, h
ed. "No, I can'
hear a male voice on th
Julian's jaw tightened. "It'
nced at me, his ex
ickered in his eyes. "Fair warning-Nate has a habit of seeing good in people w
"And Mrs. Blackwood? Whatever he asks you to
/1/117347/coverbig.jpg?v=20260609184058&imageMogr2/format/webp)