His Charismatic Wife Knows Her

na'

e my surro

fr

dered if I had hear

nd the glass in my hand a

oss from me, looking alm

round the d

egina sat beside him, while Ryan,

ne person I had spent six yea

s As

rmer

eft me standing a

glass. I placed it on the table

ered, as though I ha

enne could be asking

"I asked if you co

ded harder th

red a

rrog

e

didn't seem uncomfortable.

I had spent months choosing flowers, picking out my wed

never sh

d to tell me that he had f

steps

id of

o suddenly that m

breathe. "You aren'

filled with tears. "We've tried for years. Doc

"They finally told me that I wo

ked a

sorry for her, but

had stood beside Lewis, pleading with me to let them be together. She had cried and insisted that

ng that the two people I trusted most had

chosen Vivienne a

vienne whispered. "I wouldn't hav

silently asking whether he had h

g me with a ca

u used to talk about having a family all the

skipped

g about our future. I remembered telling him I wanted a daughter first. He

es had once

de me want

say, keeping my voice steady. "I did

n't much difference. Th

wned

ly put dow

my child," he said. "This

ble. My head spun, and for a mom

from her eyes. "But you're my sister, and I've always looked u

do that?" I finally aske

father war

head. "Didn't she sw

refused to give them my blessing six years ago. Back then, Viv

rgive them or bless

ater. Then they left the country, claiming they w

the same dining table as me,

m never to return just because you refuse to accept reality. Vivienne an

other. A bitter smil

From the humiliation of watching myself wear that wedding gown, walk down the aisl

ce fal

st painful part

ime preparing for a ceremony they knew would never happen? Why had Vivienne worn he

ll done to

me to move on simply bec

s, but the humiliation st

itarian work. But after that day, my reputation had taken a terr

public. Some pitied me, while other

ugh humiliation t

er become a mother, Diana," Regina said ma

up my napkin a

ne to begin with. I had only agreed to have brea

I placed the napkin back

air and grabbed my hand, stopping me. "It's okay i

ut don't leave without finishing your foo

and away. "Do

ard as though I had shov

hing to her side and catchi

voice made a lump

enched behi

arked. "If you don't want to agree to o

enly, I felt exhausted. I had n

his arm, seemingly trying to calm him. "My body is just w

ff, but their meani

m his chair. "Siblings are supposed to help each other. Don't forg

y closed

day too. The att

ng toward me

n the knife wound to her shoulder. It was a

," I said, giving a small nod. "And for that, I'll

and against the table angrily. "You're single. Sav

mach k

ren cut thro

nted was to get out of the house be

ard the door, but Vivie

s, sis?" she cried. "I miss how close

of my way,

ne fli

mediately s

se, Diana!" my father,

. "Then tell them to

to look at any

nd walked away, my st

breath I hadn't reali

ever have come. I pressed a hand against my chest, try

he

thing they had

, my phon

f my bag and glan

, reminding me about the blind date I was

e notification

endured, the last thing I w

already pr

the events of that breakfa