Todos los capítulos de His father’s touch: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 10

The next few days blurred together.I woke up each morning next to a man who felt like a stranger. I planned a wedding that felt like a funeral. I smiled at people who didn't know I was drowning.And Mia…Mia was everywhere and nowhere at once.She helped me with the seating arrangements. She accompanied me to my dress fitting. She sent me texts full of exclamation points and heart emojis. But she was never fully present. She was always on her phone, always distracted, always halfway out the door.I told myself I was imagining it.I told myself I was just stressed.I told myself it was normal for people to pull away when a wedding was approaching,maybe she was planning a surprise.But I didn't believe it.It was three days before the wedding when I finally confronted Damon.I'd made dinner steak, roasted vegetables, his favorite wine. I'd put on the red dress he'd bought me for our first anniversary. I'd lit candles and set the table with the good china.He'd come home at 10 PM.His t

HIS FATHER'S TOUCHThe engagement party was everything I'd dreamed of.The venue was a grand estate on the outskirts of the city. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting soft light over the guests. Waiters moved through the crowd with silver trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres. The flowers were white roses and baby's breath, just like I'd wanted.I stood in the middle of it all, smiling, nodding, shaking hands. The perfect bride.Mia was beside me, radiant in her blue dress."How are you feeling?" she asked, squeezing my arm."Great," I said."Really?""Really."She didn't look convinced. But she didn't push. She just smiled and squeezed my arm again."Good," she said. "Because you're about to meet the famous Elias Blackwood."My heart stopped."Elias?" I repeated."Yeah. Damon's father. He's been abroad for years. This is the first time he's coming back for something."I felt cold suddenly. I couldn't explain it.It's a common name, I told myself. It's not him. It can't be him.

The next few days were a blur of wedding preparations.I moved through them like a ghost, smiling when I was supposed to smile, nodding when I was supposed to nod. I picked flowers and tasted cakes and confirmed the guest list. I did everything a bride was supposed to do.But I wasn't there.My mind was somewhere else entirely. It was in a penthouse with floor to ceiling windows. It was in the arms of a man who wasn't my fiancé. It was in the grey eyes that followed me everywhere.I hadn't seen Elias since the day of the seating arrangement.He'd driven me home that night. We hadn't slept together. We'd sat in his car outside my apartment for an hour, and I'd told him it was over. I'd told him I was getting married. I'd told him we could never do that again.He hadn't argued.He'd just looked at me with those cold grey eyes and said, "If that's what you want."I'd said yes.I'd walked into my apartment and cried myself to sleep.And now I was here, standing in a bridal boutique, stari

The night before the wedding.I stood in front of the mirror in my childhood bedroom, staring at the woman looking back at me. Same face. Same eyes. Same engagement ring on her finger. But everything else had changed.Tomorrow, I was supposed to marry Damon.Tomorrow, I was supposed to say "I do" to a future I no longer wanted.Tomorrow, everything would change.I slipped into my dress for the rehearsal dinner a simple black number that hugged my curves. I twisted my hair into a loose bun. I applied red lipstick.I looked like a woman who had everything.I felt like a woman who had nothing."Clara! Are you ready?"Mia's voice floated up the stairs. She'd arrived early to help me get ready, all smiles and excitement. She had no idea. She had no idea what I'd done. She had no idea who I'd become."Coming!" I called out.I took one last look at my reflection."Just get through tonight," I whispered to myself. "Just get through tonight, and everything will be okay."It was a lie.But I di

The Wedding MorningI didn't sleep.I lay in my childhood bed, staring at the ceiling, counting the hours until dawn. The wedding was in eight hours. In eight hours, I was supposed to walk down the aisle and marry Damon.In eight hours, everything would change.My phone buzzed on the nightstand.I grabbed it. My heart was pounding.Elias: I can't sleep. I can't stop thinking about you.I stared at the screen for a long moment.I should have turned it off. I should have closed my eyes and tried to rest. I should have done the right thing.Instead, I typed back: Me neither.Elias: Don't marry him.Elias: Please.I didn't respond. I just set the phone down and stared at the ceiling until the sun came up.Mia arrived at 8 AM.She was radiant, buzzing with energy, carrying a garment bag and a makeup kit. She burst into my room like a hurricane."Today's the day!" she sang. "My best friend is getting married!"I forced a smile. "Today's the day."She stopped. She looked at me closely."Clar