Natalie I dig into my dessert to try and look busy around our table. Alaric left to visit the bathroom in quite a hurry. He had an incoming phone call from his business partner. So I'm eating my soufflé alone. The fancy restaurant is filled with people tonight. They crowd the floor and mingle with each other before finally sitting down to order. I feel a bit out of place, especially since I'm alone. I'm also suffering that nagging feeling that every other person inside this room is wearing way more expensive clothing. I swear some women frown upon seeing me while others snicker at my second-hand bag. "I'm sorry," Alaric returns to the table. "My business partner had a lot to say." A smile takes hold of my lips. I get the feeling Alaric's business partner is a woman since he is afraid of naming them. I wonder why he is trying to keep that a secret? "It's alright," I tell him. "I ordered dessert to keep me busy." "Was it any good?" "Delicious." "Anyway, about our wedding," Alar

NatalieSilently, I look myself over in the mirror, sad because I didn't get to rent the dress I wanted, but happy since the one I'm wearing does fit me. The minus would be that it's puffy around the shoulders and lacks the finesse I had dreamed of. I resemble a white cake with plenty of whip cream. But at least this is a proper wedding dress, and with my brown hair sat up in silver pins, I have to say I look prettier than ever before. A corset is holding in my pouch of a belly. I'm wearing fake diamond earrings on top of the cherry, and Linnea did my makeup. She is currently in tears behind me. I have to bite back a laugh. Linnea has taken on my mother's role and is looking at me like I'm her daughter. It warms my heart. "You look stunning," her lip is quivering. "So damn beautiful I can't hold back my tears..."Linnea's boyfriend, Johan, is already inside the church, but Linnea won't leave me just yet. She is watching me like a hawk, unable to blink away from my dress and makeu

NatalieI suck in a deep breath, yet it doesn't calm me. My world has officially turned into madness, and my brain isn't thinking rational thoughts right now.Noah smiles at me, and my heart is beating out of rhythm. His eyes tell me that he remembers everything, bringing me to tears. This is how... Fuck. Noah looked at me like this the first time we met—like I was the most beautiful woman on the face of the earth. It breaks me.Because it's not the right thing to leave Alaric by the altar. It would break him apart, probably forever. It's such a traumatic experience to be dumped here of all places...But...I believe love is the rarest thing you can find. People search for it their entire lifetimes. And even though it's crazy, I falter... I want to be selfish and leave Alaric because no other man has ever affected me like Noah.His blue eyes, brown hair, and that damn smile... Does he even understand it makes time stop and my head spin? How do you move on from that feeling?I take

NatalieAfter getting eaten out by Noah in the car, I'm on freaking cloud nine. Every part of me is tingling, and things are great. The afterglow is getting to my head, and I feel drunk.One glance at Noah, and the feeling grows stronger. Happiness is spiraling within my chest, bringing hot tears to my eyes and soft laughter to my lips. "I'm sorry for coming so quickly..." I tell Noah with a grimace that turns into a smile. "I'm just... I'm just so excited and happy, and. I can't believe we are getting married..." Noah lies next to me in the sand and turns to face me with an amused curl to his lips. He strokes his rough-padded fingertips over my arm and gazes deeply into my eyes. "There will be more time for us to have sex," his voice is husky and low, affectionate. He breathes a laugh. "But you must really like me since you came so quickly—"I gasp to silence him and narrow my eyes. "You're so arrogant!"Noah smirks. "And you realize that now?""You can't just tease me like that!

NatalieI lean back in my seat. I'm on a private jet, drinking champagne while Emma is to travel with Carmen and Frank. I miss my daughter, but... I don't think she would appreciate what might happen on this flight.My eyes find Noah. He is talking to a female private flight attendant. She is batting her eyelashes at him, making my mood turn sour. I can hear her giggle like a little girl through the walls, and when she places her hand on Noah's chest, I swallow bitterly. I know that Noah is getting married to me. I trust him, but that flight attendant blushing and giggling—fucking giggling at him? Well, I sure as hell don't trust her.She reminds me of that waitress at the Vietnamese restaurant. Then again, most girls react this way to Noah. Even if they aren't attracted to him, they want his money, which makes him alluring in their eyes.An already handsome man turns into the hottest thing on earth when you realize he is a billionaire...Noah enters the flight, and I watch him take