The house was buzzing again when I arrived downstairs the following morning in an olive green blazer dress and black ankle strap heels. I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, grumpy and pissed. Why? I had a few reasons in mind. One of which was Lucas spilling unwanted information about his family's secret. And the other reason was because I hadn't had much sleep overthinking about it. That and I woke with a splitting headache from the whiskey. I always had low tolerance with men, but with alcohol? Never.So when I woke up at 9, I threw a pillow across the room, knocking a few picture frames off the table across my bed simply because I could. It broke and hit the floor, glass going everywhere. I also took my time in the shower, rubbing off the scent of whiskey from last night and the shadow of Lucas' touch from my hair.I took two aspirins when I left the showe

Lucas grunted on the floor, pressing his palm against the bullet wound on his thigh I just gave him. Sweat started to bead on his temples and above his lips as he hiss through the pain."Stronza." Fucking bitch, he sneered, saliva coming out of his mouth. Although his tone said he was in serious pain, his eyes, however, glinted with amusement. "Lo hai fatto di proposito." You did it on purpose."Suck it up, Lucas," I said standing and putting away the pistol and the gear. I picked up a clean towel on my way back to Lucas and pressed it onto the wound, catching him off guard."FUCK!" he yelled, throwing his head back in pain. The veins on his neck bulged as he struggled. "What the hell?"

Lucas had his eyes closed when Sigmund and I entered the room. He was on his back, his forearm resting on his forehead, his chest bare, perfectly chiseled like an old statue. I wanted to jump on top of him if it weren't for Sigmund being with us. I didn't even care that he was injured. He still wore the slacks he wore earlier, with a huge rip on the thigh, the fabric probably hard and dried with blood. I knocked twice on the open door to let him know there was company. He groaned and sighed deeply like he was annoyed. "I'm not hungry, Da—" he stopped mid-sentence after he removed his arms and saw that it was us. I try not to twitch with Lucas' unfinished sentence. I'm tired, but I wasn't stupid. That wretched bitch, trying to take what's not hers. I reminded myself to put her in place when I have the opportunity. "Sigmund." Lucas frowned, trying to sit up, but the doctor stopped him. I shut the door behind me, locking it in case Daphne decides to parade inside like she owns the place

I woke up and my eyes immediately focused on the bottle of aspirin and the glass of water on my bedside table. Thank God! Groaning, I reach for them, fighting off the growing headache from the night before. I reminded myself to take it easy with the help today.Three realizations hit me as I pop two tablets in my mouth, finishing the water in three big gulps. One, I realized how petty I reacted to the situation with Lucas. The one where I put a bullet on his thigh, and the one where I let him sleep without a blanket. He deserved it, but I know that I wouldn't hear the end of it once we actually get married. Which is why I decided to shrug it off, and finally be the big girl that I am. Two, I remembered that today was my fitting day with that gown that has been sitting in my closet for months. I'd finally get to try the laced veil that was hand sewn and shipped from Russia, courtesy of Cassandra, Lucas' friend and his family's personal seamstress. I noticed how people like Sigmund, and

You really need to fake it until you make it. I've never understood that shit before I favored that pink dress from my usual black jumpsuits. The dress was a gift from Chase. He gave it to me for Christmas. He knows I don't like flowy dresses. It was a nuisance to move around and try to cover your privates in case you needed to run. It was the bow around the waist that ruined it for me. Yet I was still a good friend and kept the dress. I knew it would be put to good use. I just reminded myself to burn it before the day ends.I needed to blend in. It was my plan of distracting Lucas' mother. From what? From my dying—probably dead—father. I needed to make her think that I was busying myself with this wedding and not with other things. She needs to see my domesticated side. A side that I clearly do not have but had the chance to develop in under an hour. It's amazing what pressure can do to a pers