Vienna’s POVI had no idea how long we sat on the edge of that fountain. We talked about everything, from my time in Paris, to his obsessive workout routine.We even laughed about Bella and Noah’s romance, both of us admitting we’d never seen that one coming.Warren was… different tonight. More charming, witty and relaxed than I’d ever known him. He gave me his full presence and attention, as if there was no one else in the world worth listening to.Suddenly, my phone buzzed inside my clutch. I fished it out and answered. "Hello?""Viennaaa," Bella slurred. "Where did you go? Did you just leave your newlywed bestie without saying goodbye? Scandalous."I chuckled. "I’m still here, Bell.""Good. Because I was about to send a search party. And by ‘search party’ I mean Noah."I laughed and shook my head. "Stay put. I’m coming."Sliding the phone back into my clutch, I shot Warren an apologetic look. "Bride duty calls."He grinned, rising to his feet. "Then let’s not keep royalty waiting."
Vienna's POVThe flicker of heat in Warren's eyes combined with the gentle buzz of champagne had my knees weakening. Part of me was still tense, remembering that flicker of jealousy earlier. But seeing him interact with Oliver, our little boy, had softened something in me. I couldn’t help how drawn I felt to him. That old pull, the familiar tension… it all came rushing back, stronger than ever.I hesitated, biting my lip. "Alright… one dance," I murmured.Warren’s face lit up with that infuriating, charming smile of his. He took my hand, guiding me toward the dance floor. His hands found my waist, warm and strong, while mine rested against his chest. The taut muscles beneath his suit rippled under my touch, making my heart pound with something dangerously close to desire.He began leading, swaying slowly to the music, his eyes locked on mine. "You look… incredible tonight, Vienna," he murmured, his voice low.I felt my cheeks flush and glanced away, catching Bella’s eyes across the
Warren’s POVBella appeared at the end of the aisle, and the crowd erupted in soft oohs and aahs. The music swelled, cameras lifted. But I barely gave her a glance. My eyes were already drawn back elsewhere.Vienna’s eyes glistened as she watched her best friend walk toward forever. She looked ethereal tonight. The kind of beauty that didn’t just turn heads… it stopped time. While everyone else was distracted by the bride, my eyes drank her in shamelessly. Tracing the elegant line of her neck, the curve of her waist beneath the silky fabric. God, I wanted her. I needed her.Earlier, seeing her with Fred and Oliver had nearly gutted me. They’d looked like some picture-perfect little family. But then… my father’s words had knocked the wind out of me."Oliver looks exactly like you did at that age, son," he’d murmured, his voice low enough for only me to hear. "Vienna’s eyes, sure—but everything else… like two drops of water."I’d turned to him, stunned. "You’re serious?"He’d met my ga
Vienna’s POVI stood in Bella’s bridal dressing room, admiring her as she twirled in front of the full-length mirror. The silk of her gown caught the light, making her look like she was literally glowing."Oh my goodness, you look incredible, Bell," I breathed, a smile tugging at my lips. "I can’t believe my best friend is getting married today!"She laughed, a mix of nerves and joy. "I know, right? It’s wild."Then she turned toward me, and that mischievous smirk of hers appeared. "Sooo… what’s the latest development with Warren? Did he ever reply to that drunk text?"I froze, my cheeks flushing. "He did, actually. And… I saw him a few days ago."Her eyes widened like I’d just confessed to murder. "What?! I thought you were gonna wait until the wedding. Unless…" Her smile deepened and she nudged me with an elbow. "Don’t tell me…""It’s not what you think, Bell," I said, rolling my eyes. "He just… came to warn me about Desiree. She showed up and held him at gunpoint, forcing him to gi
Warren’s POV"Shit, she heard me," Vince’s voice dropped to a whisper so low I almost thought I imagined it."What?!" I hissed into the phone, every muscle in my body going rigid."She’s walking toward me as we speak," he murmured, barely above a breath now."Get the hell out of there!" My voice shot up. "Now, Vince. Move!"What followed was a frantic symphony of crunching leaves and snapping twigs. My grip on the phone was so tight I might snap it.Five agonizing minutes later—five minutes where I pictured Vienna’s wide-eyed face staring straight at the man I’d hired to shadow her—I finally heard the slam of a car door and the roar of an engine."All good, boss," Vince said, breathless. "She didn’t see me."I exhaled hard, pinching the bridge of my nose. "What the hell, Vince? That was way too damn close.""Sorry, boss. I swear the wind must’ve turned and carried my voice. I was on the far side of the garden, behind the hedge.""You’re supposed to be invisible," I snapped, leaning bac
Vienna’s POVCélestine let out a long, trembling sigh, her fingers knotting in the folds of her boho dress. "When I first met you, Vienna… it was the Halloween party. You were wearing a mask. Half your face was hidden, but your eyes…" She hesitated, studying me. "They looked familiar. And when you told me you were from Kingsford, I was surprised. Curious. But I didn’t even dare to dream it could be… you. My daughter."Her voice softened to almost a whisper. "But then, on Christmas Eve, I saw your face for the first time. I tried to hide my reaction, to disguise my trembling hands as some symptom of illness. But inside—" She pressed a palm to her chest—"inside, I felt as though I’d been dropped into the past. Like I was staring into a mirror, only the reflection was my younger self…"I sat frozen, my pulse pounding in my ears. "So you knew then," I said slowly."I… suspected. No—" her voice cracked—"I knew. I knew it had to be you. But I was paralyzed. Completely shocked. And then… t