Married to the man who loved me first

ived an hour

le. Elegant

oothing the fabric with reverence. "Mr. Blackwood selected this

ep wine-red silk,

lecte

know I appreci

iled knowingly

the dress as best as I could. It fit perfectly-too perfect

the tho

t part of th

ing

g room doors were already open, voices spilling out-polished lau

ing at the foot

when he hea

nd-just one-his

it wa

ropriate," he

opri

olitely. "

ered h

, I didn'

the dining room, all

ye turn

lasses. Men and women dressed in understated luxury s

a commanding presence-Damien's grandfather, I assumed. Beside h

n's m

id, breaking the silen

grandso

welc

the

ightened slight

he corrected calmly

ze

at-firm, unapologetic-sent a s

andfather hu

d

. Polite questions. Superficial

Hazel,?" Damien's mother aske

udent," I replied. "

d. "So... not

et," I

d slightly. "H

but kept my exp

his cutlery

riority," he said. "She wil

se fo

is mother

h

az

me from acro

liar in a way that m

ned s

s beau

screamed old money and entitlement. Her smile w

ly. "You really wen

om wen

't look at

fia

eed anyone

ed, her gaze flicking over me with open curiosit

hit lik

ed my

ed her," Damien said evenly

ve me. I'm just surprised you didn't tel

lac

r grew

with a smile that didn't reach her

ry gaze re

was necessary,"

ad. "Then you know we wer

nally loo

ion was cal

unnecessar

y. "I think she deserves to

myself to

onventional," I said. "But I didn'

dened. "Good. Be

shed down l

uld react,

craping against the floo

is over," he

her frowned.

ed. "My wife has b

ed. "Damien, don

able speaks to her that way again, they will

f breath rippled

n't," his

he answer

looked

om

king legs and

ncy's voice followed

she said. "Contrac

dn't stop

losed behind us, he

esn't m

ed up

the contract ends

sto

rn

me since I met him,

ark, "is not something