Page 50

Two hours later, I find myself enjoying the baby shower Grace and Millie put together for Belle in a private room within the ladies’ lounge inside The Orchid. The luxurious space—the walls normally adorned with ivory floral wallpaper, pale gold and marble furnishings, velvet armchairs and curtains of blush pink—is now transformed into a sea of blue green.

Belle told me this unique shade is called atrovirens. Apparently, it’s her favorite color. I can almost imagine myself in some magical fairytale forest surrounded by gauze, chiffon, and so many ruffles.

Lana is humming under her breath as she gleefully stirs some mysterious baby food into a shaker before dumping her concoction into martini glasses. We’re playing a ridiculous game to figure out the flavor of baby food after it’s been stirred into gin. “Okay ladies, try this one. There’s no way you can guess.”

She hands out the drinks to the group.

“This has to be pear!” Grace giggles after downing her drink in one gulp.

“No way. This is disgusting. I vote for some vegetable. Maybe beets.” Olivia grimaces, her face pinking. She arches her brow at me and waves her finger. “I’m not drunk yet. This is the curse of the Asian glow.” She points to her red face.

“Beets would’ve made the drink red, doctor!” Millie giggles as she slumps against Olivia, who’s shaking her head.

“I thought this was a baby shower, not a bachelorette party. Why are you guys all drunk and I’m suddenly the designated driver…except we aren’t driving?” Belle grumbles, but her hazel eyes are twinkling with laughter.

“Sorry, Belle. You’re carrying a baby the size of a…” I scroll on my phone to the website I’m looking for, “cabbage?” I arch my brow as I eye her round stomach dubiously. “There’s no way that’s one baby then. You’re fucking huge !”

The girls groan and Olivia smacks her hand on her forehead. “Tay, you aren’t supposed to comment on pregnant women’s bellies.”

She leans over and waggles her brow, her eyes glazed. Oh shit, she’s definitely one drink away from drunk, despite what she said just now. “Even if they are huge,” she whispers loudly, and we snicker.

“I heard that…unfortunately, I’m completely sober!” Belle bemoans as we laugh again.

“God, this is more fun than I originally thought. Who knew baby showers could be so fun?” I smirk.

“Maybe because we’re all halfway to being drunk!” Olivia shoves as we dissolve into giggles again.

Lana clears her throat and hands Belle a glass of water before raising her own glass of mystery flavored martini. “I want to propose a toast.”

She turns toward Belle, who looks absolutely radiant in her lavender floral maxi dress. “Belle, thank you for joining our family and making my brother the happiest man on earth.”

She swallows, no doubt thinking about the normally cold and aloof Maxwell, who’s been through too much tragedy in his life.

“You saved him,” Lana whispers, her voice trembling. “I was always so worried about him before…trapping himself in the estate, thinking he’s doomed to live a lonely and loveless life. And then you came in and turned his world upside down in the best way.” Lana’s eyes tear up.

Belle sniffles and grabs Lana’s hand.

Lana nods and wipes her eyes. “And now you’re going to make me an aunt! You’re fulfilling his dream of having a family of his own. Th-Thank you.”

“You’re making me cry!” Belle pulls Lana to her and the two hug.

Grace and I glance at each other, my vision blurry too, because how could anyone not feel anything in this moment?

“This makes me want to meet someone too,” Olivia whispers next to me and I sneak a look at her, finding her staring at the scene with a forlorn expression on her face.

She quickly glances at me and smiles before shaking her head. “Ignore me. I’m an emotional drunk.” She waves her empty glass in my face.

I smirk. “But I thought you said you weren’t drunk.”

My phone buzzes in the pocket of my navy sundress, part of my PR friendly attire Lana has assigned me.

Taking it out, I grin and read the message.

Charles

How’s the baby shower? Maxwell is annoying me. He keeps asking for updates, but he doesn’t want to text his wife and ruin her moment. The fucker doesn’t want to let her out of his sight. Remind me not to be like that in the future.

My heart sprints laps inside my rib cage. The future? Baby? Me and him? An image forms in my mind—a little girl with blond curls and gray eyes wearing a pink tutu, giggling as I twirl with her in the studio. Charles leaning against the window, watching us, a grin tugging his lips.

I rake in an inhale. I’d never imagined this future for me before. It never seemed possible, but now…

Butterflies beat their wings in my gut as I reread his message again, bubbles forming inside my chest.

Yes, I want this future with him. I want to tell him I love him and I want this image in my mind to become my reality.

Wetting my lips, my fingers shaking, I type an answer.

Taylor

It’s going well. I’m actually having fun.

Taylor

And reason number infinity: You’re the only person I can imagine a future with.

My pulse kicks up as I wait for his response. It comes a few seconds later.

Charles

I can’t tell you how hard it is to keep myself from coming over and stealing you away to start on that future right now.

Charles

And reason number infinity: Your vulnerability, hidden behind your fierce attitude, makes me want to protect you, but then you have this strength that tells me you’ll be fine all by yourself. I’m floored you chose me to share your vulnerable side with.

The warmth in my chest becomes an inferno and I exhale to keep myself from calling him and blurting out everything I’m feeling.

Biting my lip instead, I start typing.

“You’re texting Charles, aren’t you?” Grace snickers as she plops on the seat next to me.

I pause and slip my phone back into my pocket, cursing myself for not having a better poker face.

“Just giving him an update. He wants to make sure we’re having fun.”

“I like this look on you.” Grace smiles. “You seem so much happier. It’s what Mom would’ve wanted for you, but we just never knew how to reach you. It always seemed like you were hiding a part of yourself from us.” She reaches over and grabs my hand. “You know, whatever it is, we’re always here for you. But regardless, I…I’m glad you have him.”

Suddenly, my dress seems too tight on my body and I swallow, trying to dislodge the lump forming in my throat. I want to let her in, to let all my girls in. I want to trust people again.

Maybe it’s time to tell them.

Looking up, I see Lana laughing with Belle and Olivia chatting with Millie.

Not right now, though.

“Later, Grace, I want to tell you something. Something few people know about.” I squeeze her hand.

She freezes, her eyes sharpening. “Everything okay?”

The scars on my thighs itch and the tendrils of the monster buried inside me struggle to get out. I breathe in deeply. The past is in the past, and it’ll stay that way if I can help it. But I want to let my girls in.

I nod. “I’m fine. It’s something I should’ve told you a long time ago.”

Grace nods slowly, her dark blue eyes trained on mine. I give her a soft smile. For the first time in a long time, I finally feel like things will turn out all right.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and warmth floods my chest. It must be Charles. He’s behaving like Maxwell already and I’m not even married to him yet.

Smirking, I take it out and swipe to my messages.

Blood leaves my face as a sudden surge of nausea and horror pulls the rug out from under me.

Unknown Number

You and your boyfriend need to stop investigating or this will be splashed all over online. And there’s more where they came from.

A photo is attached.

A close-up of my face and naked chest, my dress ripped, eyes glazed, and mouth opened. My cheeks are wet with tears. A man’s arm is in the frame.

The horror from that night, permanently captured in a photograph.

I drop the phone and hurl the contents of my stomach onto the floor.