ter

eddin

woke to

cking assistants, no background murmurs. Just soft light filteri

a moment, starin

become someone's wif

came. Polite.

n? It's

t up s

shed in with steaming gowns and cases of makeup. A planner followed wi

in at noon. First look? Canceled-Kyle reque

nked. "No f

brightly. "He wants the moment

if that made her wan

That M

ressed in the gown she'd chosen-the sim

recognize

t. Eyes lined and lips glossed until they belong

buzzed with final touc

ould think about

first kiss. The beginning

zed,a message

re, sec

eply her hands

approached her it wa

ssure me before

Cere

tate, Gar

and gold-trimmed chairs in light that looked almost too perfect to be

justed lenses. Every moment was be

black suit, hands clasped in fron

for h

owd once. Then lock

sic sh

yone

th

n step

er veil fluttered. But it was her face-calm, c

steady, though

r. But something in his gaze shifted-something sharp and f

ouching, but close enough to

fician

ity, trust. About love, even, though ne

ame th

e was quiet

nt you walked into my life, nothing has gone to plan. You challenge me. You ground

llison's eyes. It was the most perso

was he

t read fr

steady. "But I know I'm choosing it. I know I'm choosing you.

through the crowd. Even Ky

led. "By the powe

pa

now kiss

urned

esit

smi

p closer as he lifted her vei

inally-he

sion. It wasn

as r

. The guests erupte

barely notic

moment... it didn

like a b

Rece

ght. The air shimmered with champagne bubbles and careful

ling. Waitstaff moved like choreography, offering truffle c

ed smile on her face, her hand anchored light

r's wife, eyes appraising. "I thought th

of both," Kyl

an eyebrow. "Dang

ay, Kyle leaned c

didn't waver.

d. "To me? More

d, an announcement echo

Wilson's f

auded. The orc

d his hand.

took

a moment, it was just the two of them

as gentle. Their bodies close, but not too

g felt like a

is

still a

omething

head slightly. "You're a better actr

iss a beat.

to the side terrace under

low them-glittering,

r heels and leaned aga

gret this?" she

g. "Only the parts where you look

earching his face. "

kno

ne pretending it d

ened. "It ter

hit harder th

them-not heavy, not

, "We should go back.

are," she said

ered h

took

ht-two strangers bound by promise, watched by th

it was just

Wilson penthouse bedroom, softening the sharp edges of the room-t

ght on the ceiling. The wedding dress hung untouch

ide her, peaceful in a wa

y, brushing a stray lock

wly, and for a moment, the world

said, voice

eplied, unsure w

etween them-comfortable, awkward, filled

n whispered, "W

ere the city was already waking up. "

weight on her shoulders

be, this contract had a