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ned faster than E

his, her whispered "thank you" echoing in his ears. The next, they were swept into a whirlw

t the courthouse, followed by a modest celebration with a

Absolutely not. My daughter will not be married like some common-" She'd stopped herself, but the wor

ed the slight tremor in her hands as she spoke. "Evan and I have disc

ly. "Evan and I. Since when does Evan get a say in how my

e-I understand this isn't what you envisioned for your daughter. But I promise you, I will spend the rest of my li

to Sophia, her voice dropping to something cold and quiet. "Fine. Do what you want. You always do

f the room with

me around," she whispered, more to herself tha

kiss to her hair. "Give her time.

orm cloud. This was not how things were supposed to go. A mother should be happy on her daughter's wedd

had walked away wi

-

itself was a

his reservations; a few of Sophia's friends from work; and a woman named Margaret who had been Sophia's nanny as a chil

other through poverty and hardship and w

ver the license and a small bouquet for Sophia-but it was important to him that he not rely on anyone else for this. If he was going t

a single flower tucked behind her ear. She was breathtaking. Not because of the dress or the flower or the c

y exchanged rings. This is happening

the same time. Alex clapped him on the back, his expression a complicated mix of joy and concern. The witnes

onely nights. The owner, a gruff woman named Rosie who had come to know Evan over his months

rt across the counter with a wink. "Call it

r. "Thank you, Rosi

her apron and turned back to the grill, but not before

mth that had nothing to do

-

ooms by the hour and had suspicious stains on the carpet. Sophia had insisted she didn't mind, that being

they waited for the elevator. "I

't care about any of that. I care about you." She took his hand, lacing their

arsh shadows across their faces, and for a moment, Evan caught a glimpse of something in

be poor forever. You're going to do gr

, they sent a chill down Evan's spine. We won't

firmly. She's your wife n

-

of marriage was

overnight, filling every available surface until the space felt less like a home and more like a storage unit. She rearranged the furniture three times, com

side him on the lumpy sofa, kissing his cheek when he came home from w

the odds, despite his doubts, despite the nagging voice in the back of his mind

rice came

pecting peasant quarters. Her eyes moved over everything-the peeling wallpaper, the secondhand fur

live," she said, her voice dripping

ed. "Mother, what a

sofa, as if afraid it might collapse under her weight. "I wanted to see how you wer

Mother. That's

w. But happiness has a way of fading when the bills come due." She turned her cold gaze on E

"I'm working construction r

to do it." She paused, reaching into her designer handbag. "I brought

Sophia. After a moment's hesitation, Sophia took it,

small diamond pendant. It was beautiful, probably w

r, I c

Consider it an heirloom. Something to remind you of the life you come from, even as you

expression unreadable. "Thank you,"

ing with the Foundation board this afternoon." She paused at the door, turning back with a smile

hind the lingering scent of expensive per

still open in her hands. The diamond glitter

" Sophia said quietly. "She j

arming' like it was an i

he's my mother, Evan. She's all I have. I can't jus

her knee. "But I don't like seeing you hurt. And she hurts you, Sophi

ssure. The constant criticism. Nothing I did was ever good enough. I was either too thin or too heavy, too quiet or too loud, too ambitious or not ambitious enou

r shoulders, the rapid beat of her heart. "I und

aky laugh. "That's

ned on the coffee table between them. The necklace seemed to glow with its

overty and struggle and her mother's di

rting. Instead, it filled

rtment, the construction jobs, the constant worry about money-was temporary. He

she feel betrayed, manipulated, like the

And the not know

-

de him, Evan lay awake staring a

uld tell Sophia the truth-that Evan Vance was actually Evan Thorne, heir to the la

himself, not his money. Sophia had proven her character a hundred times over-in her patience with his l

he feel s

name. She sees Evan Vance, a poor man with nothing to offer. O

e whole point of the test. To find someone who

oved Evan Vance. The question

She looked peaceful in sleep, her features soft and relaxed, all the tension of her mother's visit smo

k. The tiny sound she made when she breathed. The trust implicit

lized suddenly. I

made everything more complicated. Love meant that the truth could destroy some

e days until eve

Tomorrow, he would call Alex. They would finalize the plan for the reveal

ispered on the night of their engagement. Please let her un

ld premonition settled over him-a whisper

s coming. So

sn't read

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