Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Home is where the heart is. That’s what everybody used to tell me.

“What a lovely home,” they’d say with jealousy at our million-dollar mansion with fancy cars and butlers

and maids.

I never understood it.

Standing in front of my father’s mansion as it loomed over me as a nightmare did to a child, I realized

this place never felt like home to me.

My father decked out the mansion in artwork and vases and a thousand things that I was not allowed to

touch. I remembered every rule as Piers welcomed me into the house.

When I lived here, I felt more like the mosaic my father hung on the wall than a daughter. It was no

wonder this place had never felt like mine. I never belonged there.

As I entered the large room for gatherings, I spotted every member of our extended family laid out

before me. Cousins and distant aunts or uncles that I had barely spoken a word to in my entire life.

Why on earth were all these people here?

Corinna and Ashton were here, much to my dismay. They were talking away with my father and

stepmother, Tabitha with their plastic smiles. They were all faking their enjoyment in each other, that

was plain to see.

I grabbed a champagne glass from one of the tables set up and sipped it, noticing how Ashton looked

over at me.

His smile fell as he stared at me intensely, but I didn’t really care. He was nothing to me anymore. And I

wanted nothing to do with him.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t in a bad mood just from seeing him. I didn’t feel a rush of anger or resentment

toward them.

I just felt nothing.

I shrugged, continuing to search through the wide area until I found who I was looking for.

My grandmother sat on one of the sofas, looking as prim and proper as ever. She looked regal, fitting

as the head of our family. I ducked behind

Chapter 19

one of the servants as I snuck up behind her with a grin.

Just when I was right behind her, the guests spotted me before she ever did- I breathed in, ready to

scare the bejeebers out of her, reaching with my hands to grasp onto her shoulders.

“Hello, Adelaide,” she said, knowingly without even turning around.

All the breath I gathered rushed out of me, and my hands fell to my side.

“How’d you know it was me?” I laid my head on the back of the couch as she glanced back at me.

She chuckled, “I know everything, dear. Now, come over here and meet my friends.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

I chuckled, walking around the couch. She’d cleared a spot for me right next to her, and I took it, easily.

As I did, I noticed Ashton’s gaze was back on me, even though his father was clearly trying to catch his

attention, but it was like Ashton couldn’t tear his eyes away from me.

It felt uncomfortable to have him staring at me, but I didn’t really have a choice in the matter. I’d rather

not argue in front of Grandma’s guests.

“Gretchen, this is my granddaughter, Adelaide. You remember her, right?” My grandmother wrapped an

arm around my shoulder, pulling me close with a proud smile.

“Yes, of course,” Gretchen spoke heavily in a French accent. She was near my grandmother’s age but

looked just as timeless. “Last time I saw you, you were a mere babe.”

“Gretchen was the ambassador for France. She used to spend a lot of time here due to your

grandfather’s job but moved back to France when you were a toddler,” my grandmother explained.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I smiled brightly at her.

“You as well. I have heard about your engagement,” Gretchen smiled. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Before I could ask Gretchen anything about her own life, the snooty

Chapter 19

voice of Corinna interrupted. I tried my best not to roll my eyes at the sound of her shrill voice.

“Oh, Addie!” Corinna smiled like she was happy to see me as she and Ashton approached. “I’m a bit

disappointed you didn’t come to say hello.”

“Ah,” my grandmother said, frowning at their appearance. “This is my other granddaughter, Corinna.”

“Huh?” Gretchen frowned, “Did Maelyn have another child?”

Corinna stiffened as the air immediately went cold. I smirked, shooting at glance at Corinna.

“No, I’m afraid Corinna is my half-sister,” I told her, innocently. “She’s the daughter of my father’s

second wife, not my mother.”

Gretchen frowned, looking between the two of us. “But you are of similar ages? Maelyn did not pass

away until…”

Realization seemed to dawn in her eyes before they went cold.

“I see,” she said, simply, the disapproval in her eyes not hidden well.

“Well, families are complicated,” Corinna giggled nervously, her arm wrapped around Ashton’s. “But

Addie and I get along well.”

“You do?” Gretchen asked me, looking doubtful.

“Oh, yes, we’re the best of friends. In fact, Addie volunteered to be my maid of honor at my wedding,

didn’t you, Addie?” Corinna smirked at me. “She’s very supportive of me and Ashton getting married.”

I glanced at Corinna’s smug face and then Gretchen’s. I took a sip of my champagne, not really feeling

as angry as I thought I would. I still had no intention of being her maid of honor, no matter how calm I

felt.

Something was different today. Or I was different.

I felt relaxed, peaceful even. My mind kept going back to Damon and the texts he sent me all night until

I fell asleep.

We’d always been enemies, or rather, I’d always considered him my enemy. But I did had to admit, his

teasing was always harmless. And the way he looked at me hadn’t changed a bit.

Unlike Corinna, who didn’t know how to stop, Damon never went far enough that I could truly despise

him.

Chapter 19

‘You’re my wife, that’s what he’d said.

We were married, and if I was being truly honest, I couldn’t say I had zero feelings for him.

Damon was smug and demanding and tricky, but he was also intelligent and always stood up for me.

One day, I could see myself even falling in love with him. That thought alone brought a small smile to

my lips.

Maybe that’s why, when Corinna provoked me this time, I only smiled and nodded in agreement.

“Yes, unfortunately, Corinna chose someone else. Your friend, Bethany, if I remember correctly?” I

glanced at her, cool as a cucumber.

Corinna’s face twisted as she glared at me.

“Yes,” she bit out, but I knew she wasn’t done.

She smiled, facing Gretchen as she laid her head on Ashton’s chest now, “I’m very excited about the

wedding. Don’t Ashton and I make the cutest couple, Addie?”

She eyed me, but I only nodded in agreement.

“Yes, you two are a perfect match,” I said, slyly.

This time, both of their faces fell-their anger showing. Corinna clenched her teeth while Ashton glared

holes into the side of my head. I did my best not to smirk at them. It was really enjoyable getting under

their skin.

My grandmother rolled her eyes at our bickering but didn’t intervene at all. As long as we were civil, it

didn’t matter to her.

But I knew she was rooting for me anyway.

Corinna leaned up to Ashton to whisper something aggressively into his ear. I saw Ashton scowl-like

he’d been told he needed to have his kidney removed.

Corinna didn’t look happy either, but both of their faces changed to smiles anyway.

“Excuse me!” Ashton called out, tapping his champagne glass loudly. “My fiance and I have an

announcement to make!” He turned in circles making sure every guest was turning to look at them.

Chapter 19

I raised an eyebrow at the fake smile he wore- just like every photo they’d taken of him for his political

campaign. He really did know how to work

a crowd.

I sipped my champagne, only half paying attention. I really didn’t care what they had to announce.

“We have been planning this for a while,” Ashton grinned to the crowd, seeming proud, “but I’m happy

to finally announce this.”

Then he dropped the bombshell.

“Corinna is pregnant!”

The applause that followed was interrupted by the loud shatter of glass on the floor. All eyes fell upon

me and the champagne glass that now lay broken at my feet. I sat there stunned, not even bothering to

look down.