Elin Hilderbrand Christmas Series Novels & Stories

We wanted to have a Christmas together as a family. And then the surprise turned into a nightmare. The first thing my in-laws received after they went into the villa was not a hug. Instead, it was a basin of dirty water. Zack was standing at the porch, sizing us up with disgust. "Ms. Sampson's villa isn't home for the homeless. They're your parents, aren't they, Felix? Figures. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Ugh, I can still smell the mud on them."

Meanwhile, I, his legal wife, had spent Christmas Eve holding a seafood platter filled with allergens, like a complete joke. A dull ache spread through my chest, but no tears came this time. The love I thought I had and the marriage I believed in had all been a lie, and the man I had given everything to had worked with someone else to play me for a fool. In that case, if what they wanted was their perfect little family, then I would give it to them.

I stare at the word until the screen goes dark. Fake girlfriend. Professional girlfriend. Holiday girlfriend. Whatever this is, it already feels dangerously real. I fall asleep with snow tapping against my window and a smile I can’t wipe off my face. Next Christmas, I won’t be alone at that table. I’ll have Jackson. And for the first time in years, I’m actually looking forward to the holidays. Even if the whole thing is a beautifully orchestrated lie. Especially because it is. (Word count: 1,243)

“Grandma said I can come anytime!” Helena giggled quietly behind me. “It’s true. I meant every word.” Sage approached slower, hands in his pockets, posture easy yet watchful in that protective way he never quite hid. “Hope you had fun,” he said to me, eyes flickering to the shopping bags. “Looks like she spoiled you.” “I did,” Helena announced proudly before I could answer. “And I intend to continue doing so.” Finn tugged at my hand. “Grandma said she had cookies inside. Can we go?”

The words stabbed softly, slowly and deeply. I forced a smile. “Maybe she’s right,” I thought bitterly. “Maybe that’s why Ryan cheated…” But then I reminded myself... I had someone else now. Someone who wanted to spend Christmas with me. Thinking of Lucien made the sting fade a little. Dinner dragged on but I stayed busy. Carol’s phone froze at one point and she handed it to me. “Elena tried fixing it,” she said, “but it got worse.” Elena stiffened on the couch.

She glared at me, her voice laced with venom. "The guests are arriving, and you're still sitting here? Don't you know you're supposed to be greeting them?" "I'll go now. Please, go in first," I replied, my tone indifferent. Hellen turned and stormed off, but Hilder lingered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Three years of marriage, and now they decide to have a wedding? How ridiculous! Did my Brother agree because of the pregnancy? No wonder he's not here yet." "Hilder Ferguson, your mouth has been marinating in a toilet for years! It reeks!" Xavier stepped forward, grabbing Hilder's arm and dragging her away.

she said, clearly excited. "What's up?" Miranda asked. Winter laughed and said, "Didn't you see it?" "No, I didn't," Miranda replied. Winter then remembered she had blocked Hansel and said, "So, Ingrid posted on social media that Hansel bought her a Hermès Kelly bag. She said it's a Christmas gift. "In the photo, you can see two hands, making it look like Hansel is with her for Christmas Eve. But then one of his close friends stepped in and said that wasn't true."

Another alert. I glanced down. One word in the notification froze the breath in my lungs. Unidentified visitor. Cleared access. Name provided: Liana Cross. My fingers locked around the phone. The air in the room thinned. And for a moment I forgot how to breathe. No. Impossible. My heart slammed so hard it hurt. I felt the floor shift beneath my feet even though I knew it hadn’t moved. My vision tunneled around the words. My body went cold. Then hot. Then numb.

That very day we ordered our second Christmas miracle. END

I curled up with Chris in his bed as we watched a movie. He’s been worried about me over the past week, which I feel bad about. I hate worrying everyone. Chris surprised me with a home-cooked dinner and a movie; A Journey Back to Christmas, my favorite Christmas movie ever. I sighed as we watched, “What’s wrong?” Chris asked; I shook my head, but Chris was not about to take that for an answer. He paused the movie and straightened up, waiting for me to talk to him.