g to happen, Megan. You know that. My heart belongs to you. It always has. Anna is just... a formality.

bt in her eyes. "I don't trust her. She's a stranger, Donald. And

You don't have to trust her. It's not about her, Megan. It's about me fulfilling my fat

er now. "Just... wait for me. This i

a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'll wait. But the idea of you

ly on her arm. "I'll never let anything chan

brief smile

ve her a warm kiss on h

pect of a family like Caldwell's. Only a few close family members were present, seated in an elegant but subdued arrangem

wore a simple ivory gown, modest yet graceful, with delicate lace sleeves. But the dress, no matter how beautiful, could not disgui

, in just a few moments, the

ad always imagined his wedding to be grand, surrounded by loved ones, laughter filling the air. I

voice broke thro

fully wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better or w

ust a fraction of a se

d

eady, but it car

rd as the officia

ully wedded husband, to have and to hold, for better or w

ightly. This was it. Th

ly hearing her own voice ov

sliding onto their fingers-symbol

n me, I now pronounce

Then, the officiant added,

warmth in his gaze, no affection-just the silent acknowledgment of a deal sealed. He leaned in, his

here remained heavy and somber. Anna felt

rents watched with relief, while Donald's mother kept her

was placed

instructed, sliding the

around it as she stared at the paper. He

p breath,

uit, his signatur

as d

ere ma

at the man who was now her husba

e. It was a vast, modern house, with perfect white marble floors, floor-to-cei

taircase. He didn't wait for her, didn't turn to see if she was following. He simply

had imagined stepping into marriage. Not that she had ever dreamt of a fairy t

ed. He exhaled, as if debating whether to sa

armth. "This marriage-it's a contract. Nothing more. You don't ask questions,

rds, gripping the handle

"We live separate lives. You have y

y, her throat dr

ed into a thin

ed without looking back, "And one more thing, You'll be in the guest room," Donald said ove

st