The Olive Branch

Astoria’s POV]

The morning of my mother’s wedding arrived with bright sun rays and a gentle breeze.

After waking up, I simply lay there listening to the distant hum of preparation, guests talking and laughing, their voices muted and distant, and the muted footsteps in hallways.

I rolled onto my side and stared at the flimsy white curtains.

It felt peaceful for once. But I couldn’t linger like would have liked to. Last night, Vladimir’s strange way to deflect the conversation had me thinking about what they were hiding.

I sat up slowly. Despite the cold relationship, I was happy for her. She had suffered enough and deserved someone like Matthew. I had seen him watch my mother, his gaze always fond and his attention solely fixed on her.

However, I couldn’t feel truly happy for some reason.

A tiring sadness crept up inside me, not because she was marrying Matthew, but because once again, everything was changing.

My gaze drifted toward the corner of the room where my gown hung. A beautiful pastel pink off-shoulder attire. Soft and ethereal, the fabric was layered in delicate chiffon that caught the light like a blush against skin.

I had once imagined another dress.

White, along with a veil.

Shawn’s face surfaced in my mind unbidden. The way he used to talk about the dream wedding, and the several things he would do to make it memorable. We wanted a beach wedding, private but dreamy.

But that conversation slowly became less and less, and Shawn never spoke about it again.

Oddly, the memory or the wish didn’t hurt anymore. I often thought about his lack of enthusiasm to settle down, and it hurt when he skirted around the topic later in our relationship, but now…it felt like a relief.

Even though I was cheated on, at least I was glad that we weren’t married already.

I let out a shaky exhale and got out of bed.

Today I needed to be at my best, and then…I pushed back the thoughts and went to get ready because the wedding would take place in the afternoon.

Despite the offers of assistance from stylists and attendants fluttering around the estate, I chose to get ready alone.

I took time in the shower before stepping out, drying myself, and finally beginning what would be an hour-long ordeal.

I left my hair down, pinning a few sections back with a bejeweled hairpin that Mom had given me. The curls came out perfectly. For makeup, I chose to keep it natural. For accessories, I only put on a pair of diamond studs, another gift from my mother.

I patted down the dress and observed my reflection. I didn’t look plain, but neither did I look like I was grabbing attention.

That was good.

Slipping on a similar color kitten heels, I picked up the clutch containing my phone and was ready to go.

A knock sounded at the door just as I was about to turn the handle to leave.

I turned the handle and came face to face with Viktor.

My breath caught in my throat. Viktor looked like he had just stepped out of a fashion magazine.

He wore a charcoal suit tailored perfectly to his broad frame, crisp white shirt beneath, but no tie. His hair was brushed back, and he had put on some kind of cologne that smelled heavenly.

As I regarded him, I didn’t miss the way his gaze swept over me slowly.

For a moment, I thought I saw something flicker across his eyes the moment he looked back up at me.

“You look…” He paused, as if searching for the correct word. “Appropriate.”

Taken aback, a laugh slipped from me. “Wow, that almost sounded like a compliment.”

He stepped closer, not invading my private space, but almost. My smile faltered.

“It was.” His expression was sincere, and it made my stupid heart flutter again.

He reached into his jacket pocket and withdrew a small velvet box.

I blinked. “What’s that?”

“An olive branch,” he replied simply while opening it.

That surprised me more than the gift itself.

Inside the box was a delicate diamond pendant suspended on a thin white-gold chain. The stone caught the sunlight spilling through the window and glinted.

“It belonged to my grandmother,” he said evenly. “Consider it…a welcome gift.”

My throat tightened unexpectedly. That was…not what I was expecting.

I stared at the box, which looked old now that I noticed. But I was definitely not important enough for an heirloom?! It was way more than I deserved.

Shaking my head, I began, “But I can’t possibly—”

“It suits you.”His voice left little room for refusal.

Slowly, I turned, lifting my hair to expose the back of my neck.

I felt him step closer…closer than necessary. The brush of his fingers against my skin as he fastened the clasp sent a tingles down my spine as I had felt the day we sat at breakfast for the first time.

How many weeks was that? Two weeks? Three?

His touch felt intimate even though it wasn’t. Yet again I rudely reminded myself that he was my half-brother, and that would mean I couldn’t ever harbor anything for this guy. No feelings except for admiration and…platonic love.

His knuckles grazed my shoulder, cutting into my thoughts, as he adjusted the pendant so it rested perfectly against my collarbone.

I let out a shaky breath so as not to let myself get caught. This…heart fluttering and nervous clenching of the stomach wasn’t something I was supposed to feel.

I’ve never felt anything like that when I’m with Vladimir. Our hands have touched, and he is equally handsome as Viktor. So why was all this happening with Viktor only?

“There,” he murmured, breaking my inner monologue.

I turned back to face him.

The diamond lay cool against my skin, but warmth bloomed beneath it.

“Thank you,” I said softly. “For the olive branch.”

He regarded me again. “Since it’s an olive branch, I expect you to wear it. Always.”

His gaze held mine longer than necessary before he said, “Let’s get going.”