“It’s truly you, I thought my eyes were playing tricks,” a woman’s voice said as she walked toward their table.Vivienne froze. She didn’t need to lift her head to know who it was. That voice was too familiar, one she could never forget.Serena Turner.The heiress of the Turner family. Her best friend in college or so she thought. Daniel Trent’s girlfriend. Or maybe ex-girlfriend now, if the rumors were true.Vivienne’s stomach twisted painfully. Her breath caught in her throat.“Yes, it’s me,” Daniel replied, his tone flat, as if he wasn’t excited to see her.Vivienne scorned in her heart at the sound of his pretentious voice. Of course. It all made sense now. He hadn’t asked her here out of love. He had asked her here to use her. He already knew Serena would be at this restaurant today. He wanted to prove something to her. It was still Serena. Always Serena.“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Serena said with a smile.“I didn’t expect to see you either,” Daniel replied smoothly. He
Vivienne looked toward the hall, following the deep commanding voice. Her eyes widened when she saw the man standing there. She hadn’t expected to see him at all.“Sir Leo,” the guards greeted respectfully, immediately stepping aside to make way for her.Leo’s dark eyes landed on her. “Why are you still standing there?” he asked, his tone calm yet firm.Vivienne blinked, startled, before quickly stepping into the hall. Relief washed through her chest, her breath escaping in a shaky sigh.“Thank you,” she said softly, forcing a faint smile. She knew Leo had only claimed she was with him to save her from humiliation. In truth, she had been invited by Emily and Evelyn...after all, she was Evelyn’s therapist. The one Denovon himself had recommended when Evelyn was struggling with addiction.“I’m surprised to see you here,” Leo said, his gaze sweeping over her. There was a glint of amusement in his eyes. “It’s good to see you aren’t bawling your eyes out today.”Vivienne froze. Her faint s
“You look very beautiful, sis,” Evelyn complimented softly.Emily turned to face her. She had already changed out of her white wedding gown and into a graceful evening dress for the reception. The gown was an elegant champagne color, shimmering softly under the golden light from the crystal chandeliers above. The fabric hugged her figure in all the right places, flowing down in delicate folds like liquid silk. Her bare shoulders glowed with a natural radiance, and her hair, now loosened slightly from its earlier tight bun, framed her delicate face beautifully. Simple pearl earrings graced her ears, adding a timeless touch of elegance.Emily smiled warmly at her stepsister. “Thank you, Eve. You look beautiful too.”They were still in the dressing room of the grand hotel suite, the same hotel where the reception was being held. From the distance, one could faintly hear the sound of music...the piano playing softly, mixed with laughter and the murmur of voices in the hall where the guest
The church was filled with soft light, golden rays streaming through the tall glass windows. The air smelled of fresh flowers...white lilies, roses, and baby’s breath lined the pews, their petals glowing gently under the glow of the chandeliers. Every corner of the hall seemed to breathe elegance and peace.A quiet hush filled the hall, broken only by the low sound of the piano playing a slow, tender melody. The guests, dressed in their finest clothes, sat quietly in their places as they waited for the bride. Everyone knew this was no ordinary wedding. The Rowland name carried weight, and this ceremony was not just about love...it was history in the making.At the altar, Denovon Rowland stood tall. His black tuxedo fit him perfectly, the sharp lines highlighting his broad shoulders and strong frame. His face was calm, almost unreadable to those watching, but his eyes betrayed a restlessness. He kept them fixed on the door at the far end of the long aisle. His fingers curled slightly a
“Denovon shouldn’t drink tonight,” Sophia said firmly, her eyes narrowing as she watched Mason pass with two large bottles of wine in his hands. He was heading straight toward the corner where Denovon and others sat together.Mason paused, looking at her in surprise. Then he nodded, instantly understanding her meaning, and quietly turned away with the bottles.“Why shouldn’t he drink tonight?” Grandfather Gregory asked suddenly, his voice strong though aged, as if he truly didn’t understand what Sophia had just said.Sophia turned her head slowly to him, her tone calm and respectful. “Of course he shouldn’t drink, Father. Tomorrow is the wedding. He can’t show up drunk. It’s his day, the most important of his life. He should be clear-minded and steady.”Gregory let out a scornful laugh, shaking his head. “Do you really think those two small bottles of wine can make him drunk? Denovon is not a weak man.”Sophia’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t give in. “They’re big bottl
The morning light filtered softly into the villa, spilling across the polished floor and brushing against the curtains. The room was quiet, warm, filled with the gentle rhythm of two hearts that had found each other. Denovon stirred awake, his arm instinctively reaching for Emily. She lay beside him, already awake, watching him with a quiet smile that made his chest tighten.Tomorrow was their wedding. The thought alone carried weight, excitement, and a strange kind of fear that came with such happiness. “You’re awake early,” Denovon murmured, his voice low and heavy from sleep, yet warm as it wrapped around her like a blanket.Emily smiled faintly, her eyes glowing. “I couldn’t sleep longer. Tomorrow is… everything.”His lips curved into a small smile, though his gaze lingered on her longer than usual, as though he wanted to carve the sight of her into his memory. He leaned forward, brushing a tender kiss across her forehead. “Tomorrow is only the beginning.”Tears threatened to ri