Maximilian had expected the ceremony to be nothing more than another step in his carefully built plan. He expected to remain calm, steady, and unaffected. But the longer he stared at Evelyn walking toward him, the more something inside him began to shift in ways he could not control.
At first, it was only a small jolt that he brushed off as a surprise. But then the feeling grew. It grew so suddenly and so violently that he stiffened where he stood.
His heart suddenly slammed against his ribs.
He swallowed and tried to calm himself, but the sound of it only grew louder in his ears. It beat so strongly he almost felt dizzy. He lifted one hand and pressed it against his chest, confused by the warmth blooming there. He frowned, unsure if it was panic, shock, or something else entirely.
Wha
