Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 98121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98121 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Did he know all along that my mother was already pregnant when he married her? I will never know.
I search my reflection for features not belonging to my mother. For hints of the man who fathered me.
“She’d have been proud of you,” Allegra says.
“You think so?” I ask. Allegra knows the truth about Malek not being my father, but she doesn’t know the rest of it. I can’t stomach the idea of telling that story to anyone.
“I know so.”
A knock comes on the door. “Ready?” asks Cassian from just outside it.
Allegra raises her eyebrows. I nod and she goes to open the door to let Cassian in. She takes Seth from him and quietly slips out to leave us alone.
He looks me over. “You look beautiful,” he says.
“Thanks.”
There’s a moment I think I should fill but don’t know what to say.
“Amal,” he says, coming toward me but keeping enough space between us so he’s not crowding me. I look up at him. “You should have come to me, but I understand why you didn’t. I want to make sure you know I’d never hurt you or your brother. I want to be very clear on that.”
I don’t know what to say and find myself trying to swallow down a lump in my throat.
“That’s all I’m going to say about it. Do you understand?”
I nod.
“Good. Besides, I hear you’re a pretty good shot and I should stay on your good side. You ready to marry my brother for a second time? Now that you actually have the choice?”
“I’d marry him a hundred times over,” I say.
He holds out his hand, and I slip mine into it. He tucks my arm into his because he’s going to walk me down the aisle. His idea. “That’s good to hear because he’s been crazy about you for a long time.”
“Thank you, Cassian,” I say before we walk out the door. “Thank you for being there and for all of it. I was wrong not to trust you.”
He nods. “We’re good now, Amal. And Jet’s impatient as ever. Insisted on bringing that damn dog too.”
With a laugh we walk out the door and the organist starts a sort of wedding march as soon as we appear at the end of what was once a proper church aisle and is now Cassian’s house. And there, standing at the end, is my beautiful husband looking as handsome as ever, grinning a stupid grin like he’s so happy to see me. So damn happy.
And we are.