When Emily hears that her childhood sweetheart and contract husband, Carlos, wants a divorce, her world starts crashing down. She's hurt and heartbroken. And if that isn't bad enough... She's pregnant.
Lihat lebih banyakEMILY’S POVThe sitting room is filled with the sunlight coming through the windows. The scent of fresh roses and vanilla fills the air. Someone must’ve lit one of the new candles Helen brought. I try to focus on that, on the little things. The smell, the sunlight, the pretty swatches of fabric on the table. I need to focus on anything but the feeling of anxiety in my chest.I sit at the far end of the table, pretending to examine a catalog page that displays four-tiered wedding cakes with elaborate fondant flowers. My eyes scan the words, but nothing registers. I rest my hand on my belly. It’s rounder now, heavier with the life growing inside me. She kicks sometimes.Helen is in her element, standing at the head of the table with a pen behind her ear and her phone buzzing every few minutes. She snaps into action every time it does. “So, if we choose blush for the bridesmaids’ dresses, we’ll need to make sure it complements the venue’s lighting. Warm tones, remember. The sunset over t
ALEXANDER’S POVThe trucks roll through the estate gates just after sunrise. I sit on the passenger side of the second vehicle, dressed in a crisp, pressed uniform, a laminated ID badge clipped to my chest. “RiverStone Wedding Logistics – Clearance Level B.” The face on the card is mine. The name is not.No one looks twice.What better way to see my precious Emily than to disguise to be one of the wedding vendors? It took me a lot to find out the vendors she would be using. And when I did, I applied for a job.Obviously, I can’t show my face around her but it doesn’t matter. Seeing her or watching her from a distance is more than enough.I wear a face cap to hide my eyes and the hunger behind them. My hands rest calmly on my thighs, but inside me, I’m excited just to see her again.I’ve waited long enough.We pull to a stop in the back courtyard of the estate, where a small army of florists, caterers, decorators, and planners are already moving. But no one sees me. They won’t—not yet.
ALEXANDER’S POVI sit at my desk—no, our altar—. My fingers tremble as I slowly smooth down the edges of a photograph. Her photograph. Emily.Her face is a perfect masterpiece, smiling innocently at the camera. She doesn’t even know I took that one. She was sipping coffee at that café on Rue de la Paix in Paris. Her eyes crinkled in that way they do when she’s really, really happy. I remember that morning. She wore a scarf, red with little white stars, and her hands were always cold. I watched her for hours, pretending to read while snapping a photo every time she looked away. No one ever noticed. No one ever saw me. But I saw everything.I saw her.Her beauty. Her grace. Her smile. She belonged to me then. She still does now.I look at the pile of y photos printed from her social media—the ones she posted before she blocked me. I memorized every one before they disappeared. And the ones I printed of her walking to work. Eating with friends. Laughing at something stupid Bridget or Hel
EMILY'S POVI can’t stop shaking. My whole body feels like it’s trembling beneath Carlos’s arms, and no matter how tight he holds me, it doesn’t go away.I clutch onto him like a lifeline. My face is buried in his chest, breathing in the scent of him. My tears have soaked his shirt. My voice comes out broken, breathless. “I—Carlos—I can’t… I can’t stop shaking…”“I’ve got you,” he whispers fiercely, kissing the top of my head. “I’ve got you, baby. You and our little girl… no one’s going to hurt you. I promise. I swear it.”His words soothe me a bit but they can’t stop the images flashing through my mind—the bloodied stuffed bear, the knife, the name in red ink: From Lina. The firework, the panic, the drone whirring above us. It’s all too much.Around us, the atmosphere is thick. The guests are murmuring in shock and confusion. Their happy faces from earlier are now pale, anxious. Some are helping to calm others. Carlos’s parents are on their feet. His father barks orders to security.
EMILY’S POVI always imagined what my baby shower will be like… but I never imagine this.It is beyond perfect.The entire backyard has been transformed into what can only be described as a fairytale dream. I’ve never seen so much pink, white, and gold in one place in my entire life. Shimmering fairy lights are on top. There are pink and blue balloons everywhere. Tables are covered in blue or pink cloths, topped with glass vases full of wildflowers and rose petals. Sweet jazz music plays softly through the speakersEvery corner of the backyard looked like it had been kissed by a Pinterest fairy.Carlos had gone insane with the planning—and I loved every second of it.Everywhere I turned, people were smiling, hugging, toasting, and doting on me like I was royalty. Maybe it was the glow. Maybe it was the baby bump. Maybe it was the food. But this was one of the happiest moments of my life.I float from table to table in my flowing ivory maternity dress, greeting guests, accepting hugs a
EMILY’S POVI wipe the sweat from Carlos’s brow for what must be the fifth time today. He’s been healing well, stronger by the day, but the stubborn man still pushes himself too hard when no one’s looking. He hates feeling helpless. Hates staying in bed, being doted on. He’ll never admit it, but I can tell.“Emily.” He says.I glance down. He’s propped himself up on one elbow. His blue eyes catch the sunlight that slips through the open window. The sight of him like this makes my heart skip a beat.God, he’s gorgeous.Still, I can’t deny the mischievous glint in his eyes—the same one that got us into trouble more times than I can count.“I want to go for a walk,” he says.My hands pause mid-fold, a soft towel half-rolled in my lap. “Carlos…”“Please.”“You’re not strong enough yet,” I counter gently, smoothing the towel and setting it down. “You’ve barely recovered, remember? The doctor says you need to be on bed rest”He chuckles “You make it sound dramatic.”“Carlos, you almost died
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