Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
“I think you’re beautiful,” he says and that intense stare makes me want to tumble into his gaze. “I think you’ll make a perfect wife.”
“A perfect fake wife,” I whisper.
He says nothing for a long moment before turning away. “Come, asteraki mu. We don’t want to keep them waiting.”
I get changed, do my hair and makeup, then meet Evander in the sitting room. He gives me one look, nods approvingly, and offers me his arm. I accept it as we step out into the hall—but pause in front of his office door.
He leans down and his lips brush against my neck and ear. “Real or fake, I will be proud to call you mine, Camille.”
I tremble as he opens the door. We step into his office together.
A man stands behind his desk. He’s tall, handsome, with blue eyes and dirty-blond hair. He’s smiling at us kindly as he gestures at the papers open before him. Sitting in the chairs are Lycus, Helen, and Dimitra. Everyone stands as we enter and they stare at me like they expect me to run.
But there’s no running from this.
Not with Evander by my side, his taste still on my lips.
My heart’s racing as Evander leads me to the desk. “This is Gareth, my friend and lawyer,” he says, gesturing at the man behind the desk.
Gareth smiles kindly. “No special words today, I’m afraid, but congratulations all the same.”
“Thank you.” I clear my throat and hesitate, looking around. Helen’s nodding encouragingly, Lycus looks almost grim, and Dimitra’s watching me with hawk-like intensity. “And thank you all for coming. I know… I know this wedding isn’t exactly what we all imagined, but it’s exactly what we needed.”
“Well said,” Gareth says. “Now, if you want to sign—?”
But before Evander can pull me to the pens, Dimitra steps forward. She’s wearing a simple black sheath dress down to her knees with beads around the neck and her hair in a loose bun. She looks so much like Evander, with that same inscrutable intensity, but her gaze softens as she reaches out to take my hands.
“I don’t know you very well,” she says softly. I’m intensely aware of everyone straining to hear. “But I’m going to be honest with you. I never thought my son would take a wife.”
I clear my throat and try to smile. “I didn’t either.”
Lycus lets out a sharp laugh, but he stops himself quickly under the look Evander gives him.
“I have suffered a lot of loss in my life,” Dimitra continues. “From Evander’s older brother, gone when I was three months pregnant with him, to my brother-in-law and nephew, to my husband, to dozens of other captains and soldiers within the family’s organization. I wear black because I can’t bring myself to stop mourning them, all of them, everyone we’ve lost. But seeing you here, marrying my son—I have hope for the future of the family for the first time in a very long time. I know you are not Greek, but what has that gotten us? Nothing but fighting and violence. I am happy you are joining our family, and I hope that we can put the loss behind us in time.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, fighting back tears. I want to tell her how much I’ve lost too and how much her words mean to me, but instead I kiss her cheek and squeeze her hands.
It kills me. This whole moment kills me. Dimitra looks at me with hope in her eyes—but it’s a false hope built on a lie. I’m not going to stay with Evander forever, and whatever peace we might build by getting married will evaporate the second I walk way.
Dimitra doesn’t deserve that. None of these people do.
But I can’t stop this now. I’m swept up in Evander’s wake, moved along in the river of his will.
“Now, go get married.” She releases me, still not smiling, like the weight of her life continues to hold her down.
“This way,” Evander says, steering me with him, and I catch a look flit between him and his mother. It’s a short look, only a fleeting moment, but I see pain and gratitude and love in his eyes.
“I wish I had a speech prepared, but I’ve got nothing.” Gareth gestures and I pick up a pen. “Sign here, here, and here. This last document is your divorce settlement.”
“Oh,” I say, blinking rapidly. “Right. Of course.” I knew I’d have to make my separation official, but it’s strange for it to happen on the same day that I get married to someone else.
Everyone’s staring at me, but there’s no reason to delay. I sign where Gareth indicates, and when I’m done, Evander attacks his own signature with a frenzy.
“That’s it,” Gareth says, smiling awkwardly. “A little anticlimactic, but—” He shrugs then starts gathering up the paper but stops midway through. “Oh, I almost forget.” He reaches into his pocket and takes out two rings, both of them platinum to match my engagement band. “Evander had these made as a little wedding present.”