with bravery. "It's been five years. You're not going to fall in

as was slated to encounter Olivia. She would be on guest-welcoming duty part-time. The momen

refused to play second fiddl

st life, to no avail, and I had accepted the ending. This time around, I w

Mathias crossed paths with Olivia, clearing

s's expression had abruptly darkened. He had always had a

his gaze remained icy. "Five years ago, you were adamant about marry

he Murray and Fletcher families had been am

ut circumstances had shifted when his grandfather had taken

rbored deep affections for anyone else. With his responsibilities in the family busin

e. "Are we continuing th

ull over those words, then asked with sarc

I..." I carefully

de of the couch, encircling me, he said in a somewhat enticing voice, "If you des

of tobacco was always faintly mix

urse, but I had secretly

eel elated and blush under normal circumstances. However, at the

d to leave. Anything that ma

clarify. Through these never-ending days and nigh

shown interest in me. His prior vague teasing was simply a t

ever consummated the relationship, I gave o

is an opportunity to goad me into making it with you by bringing up divorce, I suggest you cease makin

now," I said, standing up to look at him. "Think it over, Mathias. I'm almost at the end of my use

the bedroom, not pausing to look back. T

quickly followed by the rumble of a car engine starting up. I knew M

o life. The caller was my cl

?" Sonia's vibrant voice broke through my gloom. S

Sonia would extend ten invites, and I'd turn

out hesitation, resulting in

re you certain you want to go out?" Sonia fi

y had served as my go-to excu

neral. I'll see you soon," I a

of blue was a rare find. Although luxury brands offered a myriad of st

ten minutes. The dress, with its silky fabric and plunging V-neck, ci

ttempt to attract Mathias's attention, b

now was my lack of curves, which seemed s

mforting myself with the thought that I'd s

ng my makeup, I steered my red P

e as spirited and arti

b and located Sonia and the others a

e had high expectations for our futures. Sonia ended up a queen of the nightlife, Tricia climbed the ladder in her family's enterpr

claimed, hopping down from her elevated

had virtually become a phantom in

ocial life for a

"Rylie, had you not shown up tonight, I'd have begun to question

t I had complet

home?" she probed, attempting to get a closer look at my face. "Tell

ith my false lashes?" I gentl