REWRITE THE STARS
“With no friends and no wedding party, it wouldn’t seem quite real.”
No, it wouldn’t, Gabriel thought crossly. And that was just the point. This marriage wasn’t real. It was a means to an end.
“But I understand,” she continued with a sigh. “You don’t want to bother your friends on their anniversary.”
She brightened.
“Perhaps we could wait a few days, plan something here in Venice and invite them.”
“Alright,” Gabriel said through clenched teeth.
He would lose this battle to win the war.
“Really?” she repeated. “Oh, thank you!” she cried, whirling around in his arms to embrace him. “You’re so good to me!”