'S

ng began not with excit

ness that wrapped around my ches

e hours, the soft gray light of dawn stre

Ethan Kingsley, by law, b

knock at my

va

as D

s ti

i

d and painted by a team of stylis

legant low bun, strands curle

ith glittering powder while another woman s

oo

was brea

ulder, with a corset back and a train that

It was a masterpiece.

rror, my reflection star

osed. Impossi

e girl who once dreamed of lov

ct," Diane said

n't r

ue was a blur. The cerem

grand manor surrounded by manicured

lled of roses, old m

d from behind barricades. My name had gone from

st was a lion of industry, a queen of fashion, or some dignita

d to me as I stepp

eir gaze

en I s

r, framed by cascading

in lapels and a silver tie. Sha

es met

t, the world st

version of a love song neither of us had chosen. My

e whi

e looks

real

tes publicl

y eyes o

dn't

dn't

mply

he offered me his hand

ed to the officiant.

around us li

Partnershi

what they were supp

ows, Ethan pulled out a

and unreadable, "to provide you wit

of our agreement.

as this arran

an through

ven trying

t was

bouquet and drew ou

but I didn

oked at Ethan

o play my role with dignity, to stand by you w

ve

d politely. Some lo

rig

it, the rings were exchanged, the papers sig

ps. Of co

lause s

d, and I became

as a dream craf

elebrities and tycoons sipping vintage champagne while p

. Slowly, like strange

red," he sai

look

is is the happiest day

ed to

odded and pl

d him on the balcony, overloo

run from cro

. "I don't like pret

t marry someone

ade hi

is wasn't about love, A

en about something

t..., c

ted. For a second,

throug

it wa

ne honesty," he s

eve

dn't

me, back into the gold

ony, in a wedding dress th

we didn't

my room,

silence b

my eyes, the echo o

se of wha

e of what

t the end

the beg

Of secrets neither of u

, of something neithe

more dangero

ng like