Chapter 9
he island was breathtaking, surrounded by turquoise waters and soft white sand. It felt like stepping into another world, one untouched y the choos I’d left behind.X
reston had arranged everything for the wedding–quick, quiet, and intimate. The ceremony took place under a canopy on the beach, with
st a handful of witnesses: Preston’s men, who stood silently in the background.
wore a simple white dress Preston had somehow procured, and he stood across from me in a crisp white shirt and slacks. The entire noment felt surrealX
I do,” I said, my voice steady.
Preston grinned as he slipped the ring onto my finger.
His touch lingered on my hand, and for a fleeting moment, I felt something I hadn’t felt in years. Warmth.
I wasn’t until we walked hand in hand along the beach after the ceremony that it hit me–I had always been drawn to Preston, I just never noticed it before, too blinded by Travis’s lies and manipulation. But now, standing beside him, I couldn’t deny the way he made me feel,
We had dinner at a small restaurant on the island, surrounded by the sound of the waves and the occasional crackle of fireworks lighting up the night sky.!!
When dessert arrived, I froze, staring down at the yogurt ice cream in front of me.
“How did you know?” I asked, genuinely surprised.
Preston leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smirk on his face. “I used to see you eat it all the time in college. You always had that little cup with you after class.”
lyly lips parted slightly as the memories came rushing back. He had noticed me then??
“Even Travis never paid attention to that,” I muttered under my breath, but Preston heard me.
“Travis never paid attention to anything that mattered,” he said simply.
I smiled, a small, genuine smile, as I picked up the spoon. For the first time in a long time, I felt valued.
When I glanced up at Preston, I caught him staring at me.
His gaze was steady, intense, yet soft in a way that made my heart skip.
Neither of us spoke.
The fireworks lit up the sky again, casting flickering colors across his face, and without thinking, I leaned closer.!
Our lips met, slow and uncertain at first, then deeper as the world around us disappeared
It was just us, the fireworks, and the crashing waves.
The next morning, I woke to the sunlight streaming through the window and the comforting weight of Preston’s arm draped over me
I turned my head, finding him still asleep, his features relaxed and peaceful.
I thought about the night before, the kiss, the way we’d fallen into each other’s arms. I didn’t expect it to happen, but as I lay there, I realized I didn’t regret it.
Preston stirred, his eyes fluttering open. When he saw me watching him, he smiled.
“Good morning,” he said, his voice deep and rough with sleep!!
“Good morning,” I replied softly.
He leaned over and kissed my forehead. “I’ll make breakfast,” he said. “Then we can spend the day exploring the island.”
I nodded, watching as he got up and left the room.
As soon as he was gone, I reached for my phone.
The first notification was a news alert about Travis !
He had been released from custody. The documents were damning but not enough to hold him. Now, the authorities were trying to locate the doctors who had performed the surgery on my mother.
The report also mentioned that my funeral was scheduled for tomorrow!
An idea began to form in my mind, sharp and clear.
When Preston returned with breakfast, I told him everything.
The next day, as the funeral service for Zoe Hart began, another story was breaking in the media.
“Breaking Billionaire Preston Urie marries mysterious woman on private island.“!!
The accompanying photo was of me–or rather, Emily. My features were subtly different the makeup, the angle, the strategically placed mole But it was unmistakably me
