Page 269 of Falling for the Wife

“Had you appeared to me then, I would have run away with you. I could’ve been with you, married to you instead of him.”

“What happened was for the best, even though I didn’t think so then. But, after a few months passed, I got over it. I got over you along with the pathetic love I had so proudly vowed never to take for granted. We were young and didn’t know better. I’m glad things turned out this way, anyhow. At least I found out that love could be found again with the right woman and not someone who’s barely more than a child and didn’t know what being selfless meant.”

However, I wasn’t that naïve girl any longer. Couldn’t he see that? And what did he mean about finding love again…?

“When you said you found love, are you speaking in a past tense or present tense?”

“Present,” he uttered without hesitation.

“Oh,” I whispered in a small voice, trying to hold it together. “So … is shearound?” Were they even together? The web of confusion thickened.

“Very much so, I’m afraid.”

My nails dug into my palm, hoping I’d draw blood. I felt entirely numb from the crashing blow after blow he was stabbing me with. “Does she know about me and what you’re planning to do with me?”

He sighed, giving me a stressed look before checking the time on his wrist. “If you really must know, she and I agreed that, when the time is right, we’ll be together. She understands where she stands with me, and that’s all that matters.”

There it was, life telling me to royally fuck off. The harm had been done, and there was nothing that could be built from the ashes. I simply had to deal with my reality—that Reiss was another woman’s man, and he was making the ultimate sacrifice to appease my father for reasons I wasn’t so sure about. Whatever it was, he was willing to put his life on hold to do my father’s demands before he went back to her.

“Had you told me in the very beginning, things would’ve been very different between us. But, from here on, I promise you that you can rest assured that I won’t do anything to jeopardize your relationship with her. Even after everything, I still want you to find happiness, and I mean that with everything I am.”

I was his first love, but sadly, I wasn’t his last.

CHAPTER96

Ava

“Areyou sure you don’t want your parents to attend?” Allie skeptically looked at me. “I know this isn’t the most ideal of situations, but itisyour wedding day, in case that teeny bit escaped your notice.”

“I’m very sure.” I was going to meet Reiss in a few hours’ time.

When he had offered to pick me up or send his driver to take me to the location, I had declined his offer, saying I had Allie with me and she had her own means of transportation.

We were in my bedroom, and I had just had the urgency to try on the outfit because my stomach had growled with such ferocity earlier that morning that I simply couldn’t resist indulging myself with a full English breakfast: half a cup of coffee, a bowl of fruit along with a bowl of freshly made cream, a pair of croissants, and a chocolate bar of my favorite Chunky KitKat.

Relief spread through me when the buttons didn’t appear to be on the verge of popping off. The powder blue outfit paired with a cream lace camisole underneath made me look feminine, yet I still appeared business-like and reserved. Though, the suit never used to sit this way—skin-tight and snug.

I supposed I could credit most of my recent weight gain to a sporadic burst of cravings. The cravings intensified if I didn’t tide them over with crackers or plain toast. My breasts appeared like they had doubled in size overnight. How was that even possible?

I was frowning down at my cleavage when Allie started speaking again.

“Don’t get me wrong, the suit looks fantastic on you, but … as your best friend, I feel obligated to warn you that this outfit will forever be in pictures. That, I believe, is history, love. And, if it were me, I’d make sure I looked more than stellar,notthat you don’t, because you do. But, bloody fuck,a suit?It’s criminal, Ava! Even if it’s Chanel we’re crucifying here. If she were alive and standing here before you, she’d give you the same advice.” She definitely was mystified, staring at me as if I had committed the worst crime of the century. In her eyes, maybe I had.

Weddings to her meant elaborate occasions, just like my marriage to Ashton. She even dared to point out that she did her investigation, and with Reiss’s monetary worth, he could very well buy his own country to dictate if he so wished it. She believed he was a blasted scrooge for not being willing to dish out a fortune on the wedding because I was already carrying his child. Her theories were so unhinged I simply had to roll my eyes.

“Christ, Allie, did I not emphasize that this was all business? This union isn’t going to last. It’s only temporary. So, clearly, we both find it fitting that we do it in the simplest, quickest way possible without any hassle.”

“Fine. As long as it suits you both, I suppose I can’t detest it as much,” she conceded, giving me a wry smile.

I knew that truly bothered her, and I couldn’t love her more for showing concern. However, the days leading up to this particular one had truly opened my eyes as to what Reiss was going through—sacrificing his own happiness for the sake of his child. It was a noble thing to do; yet it merely proved to me that love wasn’t everything. There were instances that could jeopardize everything you had, placing you in limbo. Those sometimes important details could not be disregarded; they required selfless sacrifices that could be detrimental to the future of our loved ones.

“Thank you for being here, Al,” I said as I wrapped my arms around her, feeling a little stronger that she hadn’t questioned my sanity as to why I’d go through such a farcical union. “This means everything to me.”

“Oh, come off it, lady. You and I have been each other’s cheerleaders, even though we sometimes aren’t as confident with the other’s decisions. Regardless, we support each other, anyhow, because that’s what friends do. I’ll hold your hand even if you’re blindfolded and have no idea where this journey could lead you. Maybe following your heart this time around instead of using your brain might do you the world.”

“It’s not like that,” I denied my feelings towards Reiss, hoping someday I’d truly believe it.

She gave my cheek a peck before whispering into my ear, “Lie to me all you want, but promise me that you won’t deny your heart.”