Page 31 of Lucas

“He forced you?” She leans forward, her brow furrowed in concern.

“Nothing is more important than the family name, right?” I say with a bitter laugh. “I was taught to obey. To do what’s best for the Gant name.”

“Me too,” Cora says, lost in thought for a moment. “We were raised with the idea that we would run the company someday. My dad was angry when I didn’t want to take a role in it.”

“Really?” I raise my eyebrows. I always assumed the Valeurs were united, a solid front.

She nods. “Yes. He expected all his children to work at Valeur. But in the end, he understood that we don’t all have the same aspirations. I would have rotted in a job like that. I love design, art, and interacting with people.” She falls silentfor a moment. “Did you always want to work in your dad’s company?”

I press my lips together, considering the question. Did I always want to? “I didn’t know anything else. Options are not something that exists in the Gant family,” I say, my voice tight. “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.”

Cora places her hand on mine again, and this time I don’t pull away. “People like to tell me things. Being a wedding planner is like being a psychologist.” She smiles. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Lucas anything, I promise.” She raises her hand in a scout’s oath. “So, are you ready for my warehouse?”

I nod, grateful for the change in topic. We finish our meal, chatting about lighter things, Cartman’s antics making Cora laugh until she’s wiping tears from her eyes. Then we head out to her warehouse.

Walking inside the vast space filled with treasures and amazing objects, a spark of excitement ignites within me. Maybe, just maybe, I can make this wedding my own, even if the marriage is out of my hands.

We end the day by choosing the design and finalizing the details for the wedding. As I walk out into the crisp evening air, a strange mix of emotions swirls inside me. Excitement, trepidation, a faint hint of hope.

I’ve found an unexpected ally in all this mess, but I can’t let my guard down. Not yet. Not until I know for sure where Cora’s loyalties lie. In the meantime, I have a wedding to plan and a role to play. The perfect blushing bride, madly in love with her handsome groom.

Chapter Ten

AVA

Istare at my reflection in the mirror, my chest heaving, hands clutching my body. I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe it’s been two months since I signed that contract. Is it too late to run away?

The sounds of the crowd outside seem like a loud buzzing in the closed room.

My wedding day.

“What’s going on out there?” I ask Cora, who’s giving instructions to the makeup artist and stylist, fluttering around me with last-minute adjustments.

“Outside? Hmm... Nothing special.”

“You’re such a terrible liar.” I smile at her. Since that first day, we’ve spent long hours together planning the wedding. I gave her a lot of freedom of choice once I saw she understood me so that I could focus on my real work at GantConstruction. But I have to admit, right now, she’s someone I’m glad to have by my side.

I asked Michelle to stay with the other guests, and I’m pretty sure she was offended. We made up since our last fight, but still…

I gave her small tasks like checking that the flowers were in place, even though I knew Cora already took care of everything, but I couldn’t tell Michelle the truth about this marriage, and in these last moments before the storm hits, I prefer not to pretend how in love and excited I am for my fake wedding. I can’t pretend. Not now.

“Yes, you’re right,” Cora agrees with a chuckle. “Well, there are about two thousand guests outside in evening gowns and jewelry that could sustain a small country.”

I cough, choking on the air trapped in my lungs.

“Remember, you asked.” She laughs.

I try to take deep breaths, but the corset prevents me. My heart is about to break through my rib cage, and it’s beating so hard that I’m sure everyone will hear it when I walk down the aisle. “Has Lucas arrived?”

“I don’t know. Do you want me to go check? Are you worried?”

“No. No need,” I hasten to say because I don’t want her to go. I don’t want to be left alone here. I know Lucas will come because he’d lose the money and his honor otherwise, and I know that both are much more important to him than me.

Cora pulls the curtain aside a bit and peeks out. “Looks like the antique statues are attracting a lot of attention. They were a good idea.”

“It was your idea to include them.”

“That’s why I said it was a good idea.” She grins. “I’m sure a lot of clients will request that after today.”