The Christmas He Lost Her
Before Christmas Eve, all of Nowevik was betting.
Not on money. On me.
Would I finally pull the winning lot?
Would Leon Fabian finally take me to his family estate for Christmas?
The Fabians had a rule.
A new bride had to attend the Christmas Eve dinner with the whole family before she counted as one of them.
I'd been married five years.
Five years. The lot never landed on me.
I'd become Nowevik's favorite joke.
This year, the winning ticket went to a nightclub hostess. She lounged on Leon's lap and flicked it onto the table in front of me, smiling like she'd already won.
The room went silent.
Everyone waited—
for me to lunge at her like I had the last four years.
Claws out. A scene.
But I didn't move.
"Congratulations."
Leon leaned in, breath warm at my ear, smiling like he'd just proved something.
"Wynne, you're finally learning how to behave. Keep this up and you might actually become a proper lady of my house."
I lowered my eyes and tore the ticket in half.
My face stayed blank.
Leon had no idea the five-year deal between my brother and me was already over.
Soon, he'd come take me home.