, Ivy woke to find her mot

, dressed in a beautiful blue dress that hung loosely on her thin fr

s hand found Ivy's, squeezing weakly. "Did yo

es. "You should be re

sion was fierce despite her frailty. "

Lydia appeared with the dress, already pressed and perfect. Margot coordinated everything with

inished dress, her hair swept up in an elegant chignon, makeup na

-" Ivy's vo

mien with you these last two weeks. The way he looks at you when he thinks no one's noticing. The way he positioned his body between you and that awful nephew. The way he talks to your

ugh," Ivy said.

g wisdom. "Or maybe he's falling for

he man who'd bought her presence in his life, who claimed to feel nothin

raitorous voice in

eful hug. "Just... be careful with your heart. An

hem. Margot entered, all efficien

-

hundred guests filled the chairs, Manhattan's elite dressed in their finest, whispering behind their programs. Ivy recognized

she'd be gone with her money, and the

er mother beside her-Catherine had insisted on walking her down the aisle

Ivy saw

yes locked on her with an intensity that stole her breath. Beside him stood his best man-Marcus, surprisi

uld see was Damien, watching her approach

she was binding herself to legally, financially, publicly. Every step was a cho

g, her mother's thin hand in he

ly married Manhattan's elite regularly-smiled

She kissed Ivy's cheek, whispered "Be brave," and was

solid. Up close, she could see tension around his eyes, a tightness

e murmured, so quietl

f," Ivy whispered back,

al. Ivy repeated the words, promising to love and honor and cherish, feeling like a fraud.

hen it was Ivy's turn, her hands shook slightly as she placed a matching band on his. His skin was w

w York," the officiant said, "I now pronounce

is hand cupped her face, gentle despite th

lips, appropriate for public consumption. But the m

ith a hunger that belied every cold word he'd ever spoken. Ivy's hands came up instinctively, gripping hi

lly styled hair. The crowd faded. The cameras faded. Everything faded except the heat of hi

reathing slightly uneven, his eyes dark with something that looked

at wasn't for the ca

ciant announced, "I present to y

a carefully choreo

sed her while assessing her like a prize horse. Men shook Damien's hand with knowing looks, as if they'd a

amonds approached. "That's Eleanor Ashford. Her fo

y. But her mind kept returning to that kiss, to the heat that

eir bodies close, swaying to some romantic ballad while everyone watched. He wa

nse," he s

hundred strangers who

ing hypocritical." His hand tightened on her waist.

question escaped before she could

nt carefully blank. "W

know. You

him, his mouth by her ear. "Don't read into things that don't

as tense against hers, and Ivy knew wit

ate them, and Ivy lost sight of Damien in the crowd. She was making conversati

. The blush

for a wedding, her platinum hair swept up, her blue eyes cold and assessing. She was stunning in that sha

enly. "I didn't see y

smiled, all teeth. "After all, Marcus and Damien ha

as now standing across the room talking business. S

us of Damie

"I have to say, you're not what I expected. I thought Damien would choose someone with more... pedi

d softly. "Your je

mien and I have history. Real history. What you have is

urned to ice.

ing. "Carter's been talking. To anyone who'll listen. About how you slept with him

r is l

the Morrison party three weeks before the engagement announcement. Carter was there. You left together.

around her waist. Damien appeared at her side

coldly. "I don't r

Serena's smile was poison. "I was just congratulat

congratulated

as brittle. "This is a pa

omething lethal. "And you have sixty seconds to walk o

oing to regret this, Damien. When this little gold digger's lies catch up with you, when you rea

aid flatly. "For

us tried to intercept her, but she brushed past him, disappearing into the hallway. The guest

ed around Ivy's wais

About Carter. About the timeline

ensured Carter signed an NDA with teeth. If he's been

Serena? What abo

her shoulders. "Together. The story doesn't change, Ivy. You're my

Ivy's chest. She searched his face, looking for truth beneath the

licated flickering across his face. "Beca

e and exhaustion and the memory of their kiss. "Or am

vy

issed her like he meant it and defended her like she mattered. "Do I mean anything to y

ight actually tell her the truth. But then the shutters came

to our guests. Peo

d her confused heart, wondering how she'd become so tan

-

cated history with Damien. The wedding cake was cut, pictures were taken, dances were danced. Ivy smiled until her face hurt, made small talk unti

s-separate rooms, separate lives. But everyone would expect them to share a

allroom, her feet aching in her designer heels, her carefully styled ha

ed, his jacket gone, looking rumpled and human

t she now occupied through legal c

the city lights reflecting off rain-slicked streets. Damien made calls, handlin

d entered the penthouse. It felt different now, somehow. More perman

e," Ivy said, headi

o-ceiling windows, the city sprawled behind him, looking powerful and lonely a

ing he'd say more, something

"Get some rest. Tomorrow

inked.

xpected. I've cleared

mentioned a

. "Public appearances include the wedding and a suitable honeymoon to establish

n paradise," Ivy said fl

Ivy?" He met her eyes. "Whatever happened today-the kiss, the feelings you think you're developing-leave them

her throat tight. "Woul

gen and then reminded her it meant nothing. Who defended her fiercely and then treated her like a business obligation. W

never be worn again. She stood in front of the mirror in her lingerie-the expensive, beautiful

felt confused and lonely and ut

ould have been a dream. Instead, it felt li