Page 94 of Best Kept Vows

She nodded. “Yeah.”

There was no uncertainty—just a quiet, steady invitation.

“Okay.”

She let out a slow breath, her shoulders relaxing. “Okay.”

I kissed her lips softly. “Thank you.”

We turned off the lights and got ready for bed in the quiet rhythm of familiarity—but it wasn’t the same. It wasn’t like before because we weren’t pretending everything was okay anymore—we were looking at our marriage and ourselves with honest eyes.

I crawled into bed beside her, the mattress dipping under my weight. When I opened my arms, Lia moved into them without hesitation.

Her head rested against my chest, her breath soft and steady, her fingers curling into my T-shirt.

I pressed a slow, lingering kiss to her hair. “I’ve missed this.”

She sighed, settling against me. “Me, too.”

We lay in the dark, wrapped in each other, the chasm between us closing with each breath as we fell into sleep.

CHAPTER 31

Ophelia

“You’ll do great,” Sebastian assured me for the hundredth time as he walked me to The Mansion on Forsyth Park.

He kissed me softly, wished me luck, and ushered me into the opulent boutique hotel known for its gilded elegance and intimate luxury.

As soon as I was in the foyer, Maggie, Betsy’s assistant, came to me. “Lia, wonderful to see you again.”

We made small talk as she led me to the ballroom, where sunlight filtered through towering windows framed by heavy drapes. The gold-leaf detailing on the ceiling gave the entire space an ethereal glow, as if the room itself were listening, waiting.

Yeah, I was intimidated as hell.

I had been here before with Sebastian and his family for some social event, but it wasn’t the kind of place I came to on a weekend afternoon for high tea or whatever it is womenwho “lunched” did here. That was more Dolly and Coco. They lived to be seen at places like this—except—I thought cheekily when I saw Ada come into the ballroom,theyweren’t invited to this event.

Ada looked so much like me but was her own person. She had a boho chic style, and loved her long earrings and clothes reminiscent of the '60s.

Today, she wore a flowing white blouse embroidered with delicate blue patterns, paired with wide-legged linen trousers in soft beige. Her silver hoop earrings caught the light as she moved, and a stack of colorful bangles jingled softly on her wrist. She exuded a casual, effortless elegance that was entirely her own.

“Mama, you look fabulous.” Ada gave me a once-over before she hugged me.

“As do you, honey.”

I belabored about what to wear. It was Sebastian who suggestedbusiness casual. So, I was in a black sheath dress that stopped just above my knees. My hair was up in a chignon.

“Wear the pearls,” Sebastian had urged, and when I did, he said, “Fucking, Lev!”

“What?” I asked, mystified.

“He said you look like Audrey Hepburn.”

I flushed.

Sebastian had told me about his conversation with Lev and how he’d been jealous of the younger man. It had been an ego boost—not just that Sebastian had been green with envy but that someone like Lev found me attractive.

The grand ballroom was filling up quickly, the low hum of conversation and the clinking of glassware setting a lively atmosphere. About twenty-five to thirty women mingled with ease. Though it was a networking event, the relaxed ambiance made it feel more like a gathering of friends. Plates were laden with delicious buffet-style food, and everyone was enjoying wine and cocktails.