Chapter 8

I stared at Dominic.

“What does that mean?”

He slipped his phone back into his pocket.

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

“That is not an answer.”

“It is.”

“No, it’s deliberately vague.”

His mouth moved.

Almost a smile.

“You asked if I’d thought about marrying you before.”

“And you said yes.”

“I did.”

“How long?”

Behind me, someone coughed.

I had forgotten we were surrounded by three hundred people.

Dominic hadn’t.

His eyes flicked briefly toward the room.

“Perhaps not here.”

That answer should have annoyed me.

Instead, it made my pulse jump.

Ryan laughed.

Of course he was still standing there.

“This is unbelievable.”

I turned.

He looked between Dominic and me like he had discovered some conspiracy.

“You planned this.”

I blinked.

“What?”

“You and Sullivan.”

“Ryan—”

“How long has this been going on?”

For one second, I was too stunned to answer.

Then I laughed.

Actually laughed.

“You brought another woman to our wedding pregnant with what you claim is your child, and somehow you’ve decided I’m the one having an affair?”

Serena’s face tightened.

Ryan ignored her.

“You expect me to believe Sullivan just happened to be here, you just happened to ask him to marry you, and he just happened to say yes?”

“He was invited.”

“By your grandfather.”

I looked at Grandpa.

He looked entirely unbothered.

Ryan noticed too.

His face changed.

“Did you know?”

Grandpa’s expression hardened.

“Choose your next words carefully.”

Ryan took a breath.

“Did you arrange this?”

“No.”

“Then why is he here?”

Grandpa stared at him.

“Because I invited him.”

“For what reason?”

“It was my granddaughter’s wedding.”

“That doesn’t explain anything.”

Grandpa’s voice went cold.

“I don’t owe you an explanation.”

Ryan went still.

Mr. Coleman appeared behind him.

“Ryan. Enough.”

“No.”

His father grabbed his arm.

Ryan shook him off.

“This is ridiculous.”

Dominic stepped forward.

Not aggressively.

He didn’t need to.

The movement alone changed the room.

“You should leave.”

Ryan’s eyes snapped to him.

“You don’t get to tell me to leave my own wedding.”

Dominic’s gaze shifted to me.

“Is it his wedding?”

“No.”

He looked back at Ryan.

“Then I do.”

The silence that followed was almost painful.

Ryan’s face went red.

For the first time in my life, I watched him realize that there was a man in the room he could not intimidate.

I should have felt guilty for enjoying it.

I didn’t.

Mr. Coleman stepped between them.

“We’re leaving.”

Ryan didn’t move.

“Now.”

Serena touched his arm.

“Ryan, please.”

He looked at her like he had forgotten she existed.

Something ugly flashed across her face.

Interesting.

Finally, Ryan looked at me.

“You have no idea what you’re doing.”

“Maybe not.”

That was the truth.

“But I know what I’m not doing.”

His jaw tightened.

“Which is?”

“Marrying you.”

Daniel made a quiet approving sound.

Ryan stared at me for another second.

Then he turned and walked away.

Serena followed.

At the doorway, she glanced back.

Her eyes went to Dominic.

Then to me.

The hatred was unmistakable.

Good.

Let her hate me.

This time, she would do it from a distance.

The ballroom doors closed behind them.

I exhaled.

For the first time since waking up, Ryan was gone.

Not dead.

Not defeated.

But gone.

It was enough for now.

Mom came toward me.

“Natalie.”

I knew that tone.

“Mom.”

“You cannot simply replace one groom with another like a flower arrangement.”

Daniel muttered, “That would be easier.”

She glared at him.

“Not helping.”

He raised both hands.

Dad joined us.

“Nattie, your mother has a point.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

I looked at Dominic.

He stood several feet away, speaking quietly to someone on the phone.

Calm.

Composed.

As if this wedding had always belonged to him.

That should have frightened me.

Maybe it did.

But Ryan had taught me something important.

A man could look familiar and still destroy you.

At least with Dominic, I knew I was walking into the unknown.

Grandpa came beside Dad.

“I support her.”

Mom looked at him.

“Dad.”

“She made her decision.”

“She made it five minutes ago.”

Grandpa glanced at Dominic.

“No. I think she made it the moment she decided not to marry Ryan.”

I looked at him.

He understood more than I expected.

Mom lowered her voice.

“You trust Dominic that much?”

Grandpa didn’t hesitate.

“Yes.”

Dad looked thoughtful.

“More than Ryan?”

Grandpa’s expression said enough.

Then he spoke.

“I trusted Ryan because Natalie did.”

My stomach dropped.

Grandpa continued.

“I trust Dominic because I do.”

That landed differently.

I looked toward Dominic.

He ended his call and walked back to us.

“The license can be handled.”

Mom blinked.

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

Dominic looked at her.

“I have efficient lawyers.”

Daniel snorted.

“Of course you do.”

Dominic ignored him.

“The officiant is willing to proceed. We need signatures and a few changes to the documents.”

I stared at him.

“You arranged all that in five minutes?”

“Four.”

“Why do I feel like you’re enjoying this?”

“Because I am.”

I laughed before I could stop myself.

The sound surprised me.

It surprised everyone.

Even me.

Dominic looked at me for a moment.

Something softened in his expression.

Then Grandpa spoke.

“One condition.”

Dominic turned.

“Name it.”

“If Natalie changes her mind before she says the vows, this ends. No pressure. No argument.”

Dominic’s answer came instantly.

“Agreed.”

Grandpa nodded.

“And if she doesn’t?”

Dominic looked at me.

His gaze held mine.

“Then she leaves here as my wife.”

My heart stumbled.

Mom closed her eyes briefly.

Daniel whispered something under his breath.

I should have been terrified.

Instead, I felt strangely steady.

Dominic held out his hand.

“Ready?”

I looked at it.

Then at him.

And suddenly remembered something.

A gala.

Five years into my first marriage.

Dominic standing across the room while Ryan ignored me.

Dominic had looked at me then exactly the way he was looking at me now.

I had noticed.

I just hadn’t understood.

I slowly placed my hand in his.

His fingers closed around mine.

Warm.

Certain.

And far too familiar.

“Dominic,” I whispered.

“Yes?”

“How long have you wanted to marry me?”

He looked down at our joined hands.

Then back at me.

“Longer than you think.”