n even, unhurried ton

am I, then?" James murmured, lea

husb

s face jolted. A startled twitch tugged at his lips, cracking

egistration process. How on earth could she

ening as he threw a sudden feint toward her cheek-q

h as sway. Not a bl

ing across his brow. She genuinely couldn't see

e and eased forward, her s

it mid-air, followed by the solid press of a hard chest blocking her path like a wa

dissolving in an instant. A cool, distant elegance settled over her,

se I'm

a faint pull of disbelief. Was she t

slipped around James and

a stop. With a subtle turn of her head, she l

m-so bright and soft that James froze, caugh

vitation to my wedding," she

e was referring to the Barnett family's grand ceremony-

his blind, delicate-looking woman inviting her

the quiet depth in her unfocused eyes, a

ed, her head tilted just slightly, a

mouth. "Yeah," he murmured, voice

Leo, her heels clicking softly as th

rough a space already swollen with guests-nearly ever

s, her stepmother, swept forward first, smile stret

l the forms done?" Paula posed the question with an o

the wedding to collapse m

inally exposed. Paula pretended to welcome the illegitimate child with gracious smiles, but once the guests wer

Most days, she went hungry, bruises blooming along he

ferent life. Paula groomed her daughter

dly. Paula declared the little Khloe a curse and dumped her in an isolated

ill. Desperate to regain status, Paula threw all her ambit

ly reappeared and stole that coveted spot right out from u

pointed question, Khloe didn't falter. Sh

fingers eager and trem

k's copy from her bag and offered it

ng straight to the names-Khloe paired with the notor

side," Paula murmured, giving her shoulder a light, alm

glee twisting at their lips. Why would th

away. "Elsie, grab my wedding dress for me

tasy of becoming Leo's wife in a matter of hours, Elsie hurried off, bli

Jared and Corr

d off to get ready," Jared urged gently, his tone warm as

for me. I'll change in a moment,"

alled. Gone was the soft pink bridesmaid dress she'd seen last night. In its place hung a la

a pink one for Khloe yesterday. Still... who cared? No matter how elegant her wedding dress wa