Page 86 of Misdeeds of a Billionaire

With that, I slipped on a pearl-hued Dior mid-length dress with three-quarter sleeves that hugged my silhouette like it was made for me. Knowing Byron, itwasmade for me no matter how ridiculous that sounded.

“Okay,” she agreed reluctantly.

“How do I look?” My tone was dry as gin as I twirled in front of my sister.

Her eyes flashed, stopping me in my tracks, frowning. Did I look that bad? “Byron said he wanted you to wear this.”

She reached for a blue, leather-bound case from the table and handed it to me. Wondering what was inside, I lifted the hinged lid and my sister’s gasp filled the space.

“Holy shit.” Her voice was hushed and her eyes gleamed like the jewelry in the plush velvet setting. “It’s stunning. Even more so in person.”

My eyes darted between my sister and the necklace. It was beautiful, that was for sure, but she acted like this necklace was famous. The only famous jewelry I had ever heard of was the Hope Diamond—a 45.52-carat diamond extracted from the Kollur mine in India—but I knew for a factthatnecklace was stored securely in the Smithsonian Institution.

“What is it?” I questioned.

“It’s a Harry Winston,” she said, her tone hushed and reverent. “It would be worth at least twenty million.”

The diamonds, set in a way to look like vines covered in ice, wreathed the whole necklace until it reached a single stunning emerald.

“The story is that this piece was designed for the Queen of England, but Harry Winston couldn’t bear to let it go, so he made another piece for her while holding on to this one.”

“How does Byron have it?” I asked in a hushed tone.

She shrugged. “We’d certainly be set for life with that necklace,” she said wistfully.

I groaned. “Don’t even think about it, Billie. Diamonds have gotten us into enough trouble. Just put it around my neck and throw me overboard so I can drown with it if you’re tempted to steal it.”

Billie grinned. “I just might, soeur.”

The two of us laughed—a strangled and humorless laugh—while the wail of the wind and the hail pounding against the windows warned of impending doom.

Chapter36

Odette

An hour later, I stared at our marriage certificate in my hand with disbelief.

Such a plain piece of paper, yet it held so much weight. Depending on who you were, it represented love, promises, arrangements. Never in a million years did I think it would be a cold business arrangement for me.

But here I stood, dumbfounded and numb, staring at my future. Ares’s hand gripped my dress, his eyes studying me. He reminded me so much of his father when he did that. I ruffled his hair affectionately, the golden band catching the light and mocking me.

“I’ll keep this safe. And the mayor will file it first thing in the morning.”

Byron tugged the paper out of my grip, his voice penetrating the haze in my brain. I lifted my eyes to find him and our witnesses—Winston and Billie, along with the mayor who married us—staring at me.

The mayor cleared his throat uncomfortably, shot me a smile and said, “Congratulations again.”

My smile felt unnatural. “Thank you.”

Byron’s hand came around me, holding on to me, as if he worried I’d take off. Maybe he was worried about the necklace that weighed more than me.

“Beautiful necklace,” the mayor complimented.

Billie’s eyes were locked on the piece around my neck, but I didn’t think much of it. After all, jewelry was her passion.

“I hear it’s famous for its attributes,” she muttered.

Byron stiffened and I shot him a curious look. He didn’t say anything, so I turned my attention to Billie.