MasukDAMON'S POV:I took my time with her. There was no rush. No urgency. We had the rest of our lives. Tonight I wanted every second burned into my memory.I sat her up and slowly unzipped the back of her dress. The fabric slid down her arms and pooled at her waist. I kissed the bare line of her spine, one vertebra at a time, until she shivered. Then I eased the rest of it off and laid her back down.I started at her ankles. Soft kisses up the inside of her calves, the sensitive skin behind her knees, higher until my mouth reached the soft skin of her inner thighs. She was already breathing harder. When I finally put my mouth on her, she let out a long, open moan that filled the quiet suite.I licked her slowly at first, mapping every fold with my tongue, then sucked her clit between my lips until her hips started lifting off the bed. Her hands fisted in the sheets. I slid two fingers inside her while I kept working her with my mouth, curling them in steady strokes. The wet sound of it mi
ISABELLE'S POV:The reception was a wonderful blur of bright laughter, hearty toasts, and lively dancing that seemed to go on for hours.I remembered the speeches so clearly. Elara spoke first, her words so sweet and genuine that tears came to my eyes. Alistair went next, telling a few light jokes that had the whole room laughing out loud. My father stood up last, bringing a perfect mix of humor and deep tenderness that made me wipe my eyes while smiling at the same time. I remembered cutting the cake, listening to the soft music, and feeling Damon's steady arms around me during our first dance as husband and wife. He held me close to his chest, swaying gently as if he never intended to let me go.All through the evening, I felt the steady focus of his eyes on me. It was a look full of total warmth and deep appreciation, as if he still found it hard to believe that our long journey had finally led us to this moment.And now, after all the guests had said their goodnights, we were
ISABELLE'S POV:"I know so." She grinned. "He looks at you like you hung the moon. It is actually kind of disgusting."I laughed again. "You are terrible.""I am honest here, which is a difference."My grandmother arrived next.Isabelle Valancourt, elegant and dignified, her silver hair pulled back in a neat bun, her blue eyes bright with love. She hugged me tight and told me she was so proud of me."You have found a good man," she said. "I can see it in the way he looks at you. I can see it in the way he treats you. He loves you, Isabelle. Truly loves you.""I know, Grandmother," I said. "I know."She held my hands. Her eyes were wet."I remember when you were born," she said. "You were so small. So fragile. I held you in my arms and I promised you that I would always protect you. That I would always love you. That I would always be there for you.""Grandmother—""And now here you are. All grown up. About to get married. About to start your own family." She paused. "I could not be pr
ISABELLE'S POV:The morning of my wedding dawned bright and clear.I woke up in my childhood bedroom at Valancourt House, the same room I had slept in since I was a little girl. The walls were pale pink, the curtains white, the furniture elegant and familiar. It was the room where I had dreamed about my future, where I had written my first stories, where I had cried over broken hearts and celebrated small victories.And now it was the room where I would prepare to become a wife.I lay in bed for a long moment, staring at the ceiling, my heart pounding in my chest. I was getting married today. I was marrying Damon Varek. The boy who had promised to marry me when he was six years old. The man who had loved me through everything.I was going to be his wife.The thought was terrifying and exhilarating all at once. I had spent so many years alone, so many years building walls around my heart, so many years convincing myself that love was not for me. And now, here I was, about to make the b
ISABELLE'S POV:"I know, Grandmother," I answered, feeling a gentle warmth settle in my chest. "I feel very fortunate.""Love is a wonderful gift," she said with a nod. "Hold on to it and nurture it every day."My mother arrived last, checking over the final arrangements with the hotel staff before finally coming over to join us.Athena Valancourt was a strong, protective woman who had stood by me through every difficulty in my life. Seeing her walk toward me with a gift package in her hands and tears shimmering in her eyes made my own chest feel tight with emotion."My sweet girl," she murmured, wrapping her arms around me and holding me close. "My beautiful daughter.""Mum," I whispered into her shoulder, swallowing against the sudden lump in my throat. "If you start crying right now, you are going to make me start crying too.""Then we will both cry," she answered softly, brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "That is allowed on days like this."The shower turned ou
ISABELLE'S POV:The bridal shower was held in a private function room at a beautiful garden hotel in the center of the city.It was a charming venue whicb was very welcoming the second you stepped inside. Sunlight poured in through wide glass doors that opened out to a green courtyard. The long tables were set with clean white linens, delicate porcelain cups, and small glass vases filled with fresh white roses and light pink peonies and looking around at all the thoughtful details, my heart felt completely full.My mother had organized the entire event from start to finish. Athena Valancourt never did anything halfway. She had spent weeks coordinating with the hotel staff, selecting the menu, testing the desserts, and making sure every single chair and place setting was arranged just right. She wanted the afternoon to be special for everyone, but especially for me.Standing near the entrance and watching the room fill with familiar faces, I had to admit she had succeeded complete
KIER'S POV:I pour myself a drink and I sit in the dark and I wait for her to come back.She always comes back.But she does not come back.A week passes. Then another. The penthouse stays empty. My calls go straight to voicemail. My texts go unanswered. I send messages through her email, through s
She watched from the window as her father walked out to greet him.August Valancourt shook Lysander's hand with both of his, the way he did with people he truly respected, and he said something that made Lysander nod solemnly. Then her mother appeared, and Isabelle kissed Lysander on both cheeks, t
Celestine started cooking at three in the afternoon, flour on her hands, music playing low from her phone and the smell of tomatoes and garlic filling the whole penthouse.She made the sauce from scratch, the way her grandmother taught her when she was maybe ten years old. She rolled out the pasta
The first time Kier met Sable Morwenna was at a charity gala about six months after his father died.He was standing by the bar, looking miserable, drinking too much and wishing he could leave. And then this woman just appeared next to him, like she had materialized out of thin air."You look like







