His Brother's Bride

placed gently over my head. I caught my reflection in the full-

bride. But I did

ike a sa

ading, the protesting, the aching questions. All of it has dried up like an

the aisle. I was being led to

us birds. They spoke softly, moving quickly, careful not to upset the porcelain doll they were dressin

styled in an elegant ponytail. She had offered to be my

. I wish there was something I could do to get yo

uld do to get myself out of thi

ci," one of the stylists

d anyone as

e I was being auctioned? That I wished the ground would

in her navy-blue gown, her hair pinned perfectly, her face painted with

, brushing a curl away from my cheek. "But sometimes

rned

st of my life pretending I'm o

my silence, and murmured, "You're

e was trying to com

oses cascaded from crystal vases. Violinists played as if the music could mask the coldness of it all. Guests filled the pews, d

lawless picture in a black tux

eel echoed like a death toll. My father's grip was iron around my arm, his chin high, proud. We were closing a deal

reach for my hand when I joined him. We face

Valenci, take Da

o

ed it over and

to hold, from th

t closing, my palms d

etter or

This is the worst i

death do

sita

ceable. A murmur rip

rced my lips to shape th

d

it was his turn, he said

d

ike that,

like static. Flashing ligh

ced the first dance with Damien, who kept one hand too far from my

elena. Let's not mak

nked

n't go

faint, cold s

f not in heart. A Delacroix by law, a

sky painted in soft moonlight. I stood there alone, staring into

s around myself,

but I've never

*

ien'

d like any other business deal-c

., intertwined like an emblem of legacy. I was about to get more than just a bride-I was sealing an

e in this. It wa

Delacroix is undeniably beautiful, regal,

t to her father's mansion the moment I heard she was back and f

er back against the wall, and

d, "there will be consequences. Not just for you but for you

d at me, her jaw clenched like sh

ave, stupi

nted to see the look on his face as he watched me get

erywhere, a string quartet humming elegance into the air. Guests filled the

ssion unreadable, hands cla

hering in Selena with slow mu

he aisle. Her face was porcelain-flawless and emp

h for her hand and she didn't offer it. We stood there lik

fician

ly hea

s were

o say "I do" was brief. A flash o

nally, her voice ba

ost s

e, and I sa

d

ed. Cameras flashed

other curled around her fingers. We moved like two professional

ured as we turned in slow circles.

fted then-s

n't go

dded

o

ing more woul

ave a smug toast. Selena's father boomed about alliances, strength an

playing the perfect bride. But I

leaned against the marble railing on the balcony. The st

rink, gazing

needs to act like my wife and I'll make sure she does, even if I ha