A Fortune In Love

n cocktail dress hugged my curves in ways my old clothes never did. My hair, usually in a messy bun, was now

the personal stylist Lachlan had hir

mile. "Thank

hree days since I'd met Lachlan, and now we were about to announce

jolted me from my thoug

red black suit. His steel-gray eyes swept over me, and for

said, his deep voice sending an

hing my dress nervously. "You

elvet box from his pocket. "I bel

h caught in my throat as he slipped it onto my finger. It felt

lan asked, of

cended the grand staircase of his mansion, where the soun

ed with the elite of society – business tycoons, politi

uringly. "Smile," he whispered

ulations and making small talk. I let Lachlan lead m

y soon-to-be mother-in-law, Vivian Reid, approaching us. Her s

nd critically. "Well, it's certainly... substantial," she s

hlan warned,

ly. Welcome to the family, Sarah." She air-kiss

out that," La

's fine. I didn't ex

into conversations with curious guests. I was in the middle of an aw

said. "Mind if I borrow th

lue eyes and a charming smile. Before I could

met," I said, trying

ng me gracefully. "I'm Jason Tho

'friend' made me uneasy. "It's

htened slightly. "So, Sarah, tell me – how did yo

tory for our whirlwind romance. "Sometimes, when it's ri

I thought Lachlan was married to his work. H

" I retorted, f

on mused. "But not al

an appeared at our side. "Mind if I cut in?"

se not. It was a pleasure, Sarah. I'm s

me close, his body tense. "What di

his reaction. "Just that your engagement

eone you should stay away fr

on when Lachlan's father, Robert Reid,

room. "We are gathered here tonight to celebrate the eng

I scanned the crowd. Jason stood at the back, his intense gaze fixed on us. Vivian was near the f

as Tom, my late husband's bro

oncluded, "a toast

e, a perfectly choreographed moment for our audience. His lips were wa

ngratulate us, reality came crashing back. Tom was

coming this way – that's my late husband's

Tom. "Stay close to me," he murmured

emotions I couldn't decipher. "Sarah," he

began, but h

said, referring to my l

, alive? It was impossible. I felt Lachlan

alking about?"

your party, but this couldn't wait. Sarah, Michael

us intently from across the room, a knowing smirk on his face. Su

ispered, my voice shaking,

d, "It makes you a pawn in a game muc

that had just been dropped. As I stood there, caught between my past and my