All Chapters of A Scandalous Marriage Deal With Mr Manchester : Chapter 21 - Chapter 28

~~Selene~~I didn’t expect to see Ethan here. The thought that he’d show up had crossed my mind, but I didn't dwell on it because I thought he’d have the basic decency to stay away. But here he is, ambushing me outside the door of my hotel suite. I scan the corridor, there's no one else. If anyone sees us alone like this, they’d get the wrong idea.“How dare you!” The words leave my throat in a strained tone. Ethan arches a brow, slipping his phone into his pocket. “How dare you show your face at my wedding?”“Our family was sent an invitation, just like every conglomerate family in—”“I don’t give a damn about that. Even if you were personally invited by Roman Manchester, you should have declined. That is the sensible thing to do.”My blood boils. My hand is clenched around the knob, prepared to slam the door in his face if he tries something funny. Ethan raises his hands in mock surrender.“You left me with no choice, Selene. You weren’t picking my calls.”“Can you give me one tangib

In ten minutes, I walk into the private room that had been booked for the banquet. The guests are only members of the two families, as the patriarchs wanted it to be a private reception. David is nowhere to be found. It’s just Roman and I against the dozen people from the Vaughn family. I scan the table, from Langston Vaughn, to his three children, children in law and grandchildren in attendance. Selene is the only one without her parents. It’s no news that they have never treated her well, and I wonder if they hate her to the point of wanting to kill her.I think back to the car accident and her eating disorder. Is someone in this room responsible for those incidents?“Congratulations on your wedding,” Langston announces, raising his glass in a toast to me as I sink into the seat beside Selene. “Our families have become one, and I can only hope that it will always be peaceful like this.”Roman studies Langston for a second before agreeing. “I will make sure your granddaughter is we

~~Selene~~“I know you had a long day yesterday and deserve some rest, Selene, but this breakfast is a long standing tradition of the Manchester family,” Roman hums the next morning. Rain and I are in his villa, seated around the table with Ava and David. After what happened at the banquet yesterday, I expected him to be awkward around me, but he seems incredibly happy.“Every new bride is to have breakfast with the family after the wedding. I am more than happy to have you here.”“Thank you, Mr Man–” At his stern expression, I correct myself. “Thank you, Roman."He nods, evidently pleased. I fiddle with the food in my absence. Across me, David scrolls through his phone, looking like he wants to be anywhere but here. Ava, on the other hand, keeps scowling in my direction. I am not blind to the hostile energy between her and Rain this morning. They must have gotten into a big fight.As for Rain, he seems really pale today. “You aren’t eating, Selene," Roman observes. “Is the food not

~~Selene~~I’m hunched over my laptop in the quiet of my wing, scrolling through the latest reports from Vaughn beauty, when a soft knock on the door resounds in the room. A maid walks in, hands joined courteously in front of her, with her head bowed.“Mr Manchester requests your presence, Miss Selene."My forehead knots into a frown. Why does he want to see me?The estate’s gym is a sleek, modern space with a glass wall and heavy equipment. I linger in the doorway, taking in the sight before me. Rain is shirtless, pounding a punching bag with brutal force. He releases an angry grunt, his hits on the bag intensifying. He’s mad. Did something happen at the company today? Is he like this because the Helios Merger fell through?He’s clad in a black tank top and shorts that stop a few inches above his knee, exposing way too much glistening skin than is required. His body ripples with every strike, broad shoulders and defined biceps glistening with sweat.I should look away. I know I shoul