chapter 1 Now is my turn
"Don't smile at me."
The words were so quiet they disappeared beneath the priest's voice.
Valeria Ashford's smile faltered. She slowly turned her head toward the man standing beside her.
Adrian Knight never looked at her.
His eyes remained fixed on the priest, his expression calm enough that no one watching would suspect anything was wrong.
"If the cameras catch you looking this happy," he murmured, "people might actually believe this marriage means something."
Her fingers tightened around the bouquet. She searched his face for some sign that he was joking. There was none.
A lump formed in her throat. Since arriving at the cathedral, Adrian had barely spoken to her. She'd told herself it was because of Ethan.
Two years had passed since his older brother's death, yet grief had changed him in ways no one could fix.
The warm, patient young man she'd fallen in love with had disappeared after the funeral.
He smiled less , spoke less. Sometimes he looked straight through her as if she wasn't there.She'd blamed grief. She'd never blamed herself.
The priest smiled."Do you, Adrian Knight, take Valeria Ashford to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do." His answer was immediate but completely emotionless.
The priest turned to her."And do you, Valeria Ashford—"
"I do."
The words escaped before he finished. Gentle laughter rippled through the cathedral. Valeria laughed too, embarrassed.
She had waited sixteen years for this day , she wasn't going to pretend otherwise.
The vows were exchanged. The rings slid onto trembling fingers.
The priest beamed. "I now pronounce you husband and wife."
He looked at Adrian. "You may kiss your bride."
The applause began before Adrian even moved.
Slowly , he turned toward her. For a heartbeat, Valeria forgot everything else. This was Adrian. The boy who had taught her to ride a bicycle.
The young man who had congratulated her on every achievement. The man she'd loved for more than half her life. Maybe she'd imagined the distance.
Maybe everything would be different now.
He stepped closer. Close enough for the cameras to capture what looked like affection.
Close enough that only she could hear him. "Congratulations."
She blinked up at him breathless at his closeness . "...For what?"
His hand settled gently around her waist. To everyone watching, it looked possessive , loving.
His smile was affectionate His voice wasn't.
"For finally getting what you wanted."
Confusion spread across her face. "I don't understand."
"You will." His thumb brushed lightly against her back.
The photographers cheered.
"Closer!"
"Kiss her!"
Adrian leaned down until his lips were almost touching hers then he whispered words that turned her blood to ice.
"Now , it's my turn. It's ironic I'm going to kiss the woman who killed my brother "
His lips crashed against hers. Their first kiss was anything but gentle. It was rough and punishing and Valeria couldn't even pull away because he held on tight almost to the point of pain
What did he mean by the woman who killed his brother ? Was he okay ? .
The cathedral erupted into applause while Valeria stared at her husband in confusion.
