The Rejected Wife: Chapter 37

‘I now pronounce you husband and wife.’ Edward Chase, former priest, officiant at our wedding, and Tyler’s half-brother smiles at us. ‘You may kiss the bride.’

We are on the patio in Tyler’s backyard. It overlooks the garden which, in turn, looks out on Primrose Hill. Using his considerable clout, Tyler sped up the process and here we are, within forty-eight hours of my having signed that agreement, getting married.

By mutual consent, we decided to keep the wedding low-key. It’s us and Serene. Tyler didn’t mention it to any of the Davenports. He’s going to call Arthur right after, and then the entire clan will find out, he said.

I messaged my friends. No way, could I not inform them. Harper and Grace are traveling and couldn’t make it. Zoey is here and agreed to be one of our witnesses.

We asked the gardener to be our other witness, and he was very happy to oblige.

When Tyler and I told Serene we were getting married—and that it meant she could call me Mama—she barely looked up from her toys.

“You already are my mama,” she said. Then she went right back to playing.

Tyler and I just stared at each other, a little stunned, a little amused. Serene had already arrived at the conclusion we were still trying to wrap our heads around. To her, we were already a family.

I’m wearing a new dress I picked out from Karma West Sovrano’s bridal collection online. It fits like it was made for me. I also ordered the wedding bouquet I came across at Columbia Road flower market from The Tilting Tulip. It’s owned by Theresa Sutton Sovrano, who’s married to one of the Sovrano brothers and related to Karma. Imagine that?

I also ordered a dress for Serene, and a corsage she wears around her wrist. She had a wonderful time spinning around in the dress like little girls love to do, then proceeded to watch the ceremony unfold with a curious look on her face. She was so very well behaved. She clapped when Tyler placed my wedding band on my finger and smiled hugely when I did the same for him. Tyler’s is a simple band. Mine is another family heirloom, which fits perfectly with my engagement ring.

Tyler lowers his chin, and I’m lost in his mismatched gaze. I’m drowning in those sparks that flare in his eyes. Then his lips touch mine, and I flutter my eyes shut. Hard lips, firm, authoritative. A tingle spirals down my spine. My thighs clench. My pussy flutters. Then he licks into my lips, and I part them on a sigh. Instantly, he sweeps his tongue in over mine. My pulse rate ramps up. Goosebumps shimmer on my skin. My entire body feels like it’s on the verge of catching fire. He wraps a strong arm around my waist and brings me in closer. Heat from his body surrounds me, corrals me in place. All of my senses are focused on his kiss. A syrupy, drugging sensation fills my bloodstream.

When he finally lifts his head, my eyelids feel so heavy I can barely drag them open to meet his gaze. He looks serious, jaw set like stone. The intensity radiating off him is staggering—fierce, focused—and it sends my heartbeat into overdrive. My stomach flips, a flutter of nerves and want.

He opens his mouth, but before he can speak, a voice calls out.

‘Did you really think you could get married without us catching wind of it?’ We turn in unison to see Brody headed toward us. ‘Congratulations.’ He slaps Tyler on the shoulder and shoots me a smile. ‘I hope the two of you are very happy together.’

I hope he comes to love me one day, the way I know I already love him.

‘Thank you,’ I murmur.

“How did you guys find out?” Tyler glares at Brody, then turns on Edward. “You told them?”

We hadn’t asked Edward to keep it a secret, strictly speaking.

“Guilty as charged.” He tilts his head.

‘Thank you for conducting our wedding.’ I nod in Edward’s direction.

‘The pleasure was all mine… Mrs. Davenport.’ His smile widens.

Mrs. Davenport? Jeez. That…sounds…strange.

Brody leans in, apparently, to kiss me on my cheek, but Tyler steps between us. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’

‘Kissing the bride?’

‘Fuck off. She’s mine,’ Tyler growls, just low enough that Serene doesn’t hear.

The raw possessiveness in his voice ignites a wicked thrill that coils up my spine.

‘Tyler as a jealous bridegroom? Who’d have thought?’ Connor pipes up. ‘And you thought we wouldn’t find out about it?’ He shakes Tyler’s hand, then turns to me. ‘I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into. If this wanker doesn’t live up to your expectations, don’t forget to call me.’

‘I won’t.’ I laugh.

‘Uncle Connor.’ Serene tugs on his jacket.

Connor scoops her up. ‘Hey, princess! You look beautiful.’

‘Did you bring me a toy?’

‘Hmm, let me see.’ He pretends to search one pocket, then the other, before pulling out a soft toy.

She grabs it from him and clutches it to her chest.

‘What do you say?’ I touch her cheek.

‘Thank you.’ She smiles shyly at him, then she kisses his cheek.

‘You’re welcome, Poppet.’ He laughs.

“That was a beautiful wedding.” Zoey steps up and wraps an arm around me.

I hug her. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you more notice. It all happened so fast. I barely had time to catch my breath.”

“Don’t worry about that.” She gives me a gentle squeeze. “I’m just so happy for you, babe.”

“I’m glad you came,” I say, voice catching. Having her here means more than I thought it would.

When Tyler suggested we marry this quickly, I felt nothing but relief. No time to think. No time to fall apart. But it also means I haven’t told Toren. Or any of my brothers. I’ve been avoiding it.

I press my lips together. “I need to call my brother and let him know.”

‘Want me to come with you?’ Tyler asks.

I shake my head. ‘I’ll be fine.’

He studies me for a moment, then gives a small nod. I turn and head into the house, making my way to Tyler’s office. Once inside, I close the door behind me. My phone is still where I left it, charging. I pick it up and dial Toren’s number.

He picks it up on the first ring. ‘Pri, you okay?’

My brother’s voice brings a warmth to my chest. Perhaps, it was a mistake I didn’t invite him here? I walk over to the chaise in the office and sink down into it. ‘I have something to tell you.’

There’s silence, then his voice comes over the line, ‘You’re getting married?’

I chuckle, not surprised at all. Toren has a sixth sense, which serves him well in business, and otherwise.

‘No, actually—’ I pause. ‘I’m already married.’

There’s silence again. This time, it stretches for a few seconds. When he speaks again, his voice is neutral. ‘Tell me it’s someone I’m going to approve of.’

‘It’s someone you will approve of. In fact, if father were alive, he’d approve of my husband,’ I mumble.

‘Someone father would have approved of?’ His voice is surprised. I sense him thinking this through, then he snaps, ‘It’s Tyler Davenport, isn’t it?’

My jaw drops. I pull the phone from my ear and stare at the screen. What the—? ‘How did you guess that?’ I place it against my ear again.

‘I heard how badly he reacted at the lunch when your engagement to Knox was announced. Then, within weeks, you broke off that proposal. It’s not rocket science to piece things together from there.’

I don’t know whether to be thankful or shocked that my brother is this insightful. I laugh a little. ‘You’re scary, you know that?’

‘It’s a useful skill to have in my position. And you’re right. Father would have been over the moon. I’m not unhappy, either.’

‘This will help in rebuilding your relationship with Arthur, I assume?’

He hesitates. ‘It won’t hurt it. But that’s not the only reason I’m pleased for you. It’s a good family to be marrying into.’

I wince. Damn. I spent my life rebelling against the rules my father imposed on me, yet I ended up marrying exactly the kind of person he’d have picked.

At my silence, Tor continues, ‘You don’t have to make life more difficult for yourself, Pri. It’s okay that you did something the old man would approve of. That I approve of. Even prodigals come home someday.’

I chuckle. ‘Thanks, I guess? Though you should know, I did it because I wanted to. I did it for myself.”

‘Good for you. You are as headstrong as me and the rest of our brothers. I’ve always supported you living life your life on your terms. If this also meant finding someone who made you happy and who our father would have looked kindly upon, then it can only help our family as a unit.’ His voice is sincere.

My brother has this loyalty toward the Whittington name that I’ve often struggled to understand. Maybe it’s easier when you’re a boy and the oldest son, groomed to take over the family fortune. As for me, I think I’ll always hold our father responsible for the accident that killed our mother. I was five then, but I remember Toren breaking the news to me, then holding me while I cried.

With time, I realized, logically, it was not my father’s fault… But combined with his distance from me during my growing years, a part of me will always feel my father had a role to play in it.

It’s another reason I empathize with Serene so much. No one should grow up without a mother. And if I can fill that gap in Serene’s life, it will make me very happy.

‘I suppose it doesn’t hurt that it would have made our father happy,’ I finally admit.

I sense him smile. ‘That’s my girl. When am I going to meet you and your new husband?’

‘We’re headed off on our honeymoon. Maybe after that?’