Page 45 of When Hearts Surrender

It’s a chilly October evening. The skies outside are overcast, not a ray of sunlight to be seen. The bluish daylight pierces through the stained-glass windows and projects a kaleidoscope of muted colors against the walls and vaulted ceilings in this large, gothic-styled church.

I’m getting married today.

To the woman who has bewitched me like no other, for reasons I can’t explain.

I haven’t been able to get Belle out of my mind since that fateful night, and ever since I’ve decided to marry her, it’s been slowly driving me insane. Even though I made it a point not to see her since our negotiations at The Menagerie, I still remember how I felt with her that night at the race—the feeling of coming home, of finding something I didn’t know I’d been searching for. Then there was the way my body came alive in her presence at The Menagerie.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

An excited murmur travels through the crowd gathered here—the event of the year, as I’ve heard the wedding being described.

It’s a nightmare for me, in more ways than one.

I’d rather have a quiet ceremony at a small chapel and be done with this…arrangement.

I can only hope God is looking down upon me today and blessing me with the strength to carry on, to survive whatever is in my future…my loveless future with the woman who has inconveniently awakened my heart.

Banking a left in front of the altar, I stand in the center next to my brothers.

“Waited until the last minute, huh?” Ryland murmurs as he straightens the cuffs of his tux. “You know, you don’t have to do this.”

I stiffen and shake my head. “I won’t change my mind.” I glance at the pews filled with people. “I hate these crowds. I’m sweating through this tux.”

“You look fine, Your Majesty,” Rex quips from his position. “You’re probably breaking many hearts by getting married today.”

I roll my eyes.

Ethan snorts and chimes in, “But never fear, Maxwell. Mr. C over here is here to heal those broken hearts one at a time or fuck, maybe even several at a time. I think he already got five phone numbers when he was walking up the aisle.”

Rex scoffs. “Going back to the alphabet, huh? Not everyone can be as charming as me. Green isn’t a good color on you, D.”

“Like I want—”

“Boys, we’re in public.” A faint scent of roses sifts to my nose as Lana wraps me in a hug. “You look good today, Maxwell. I’m so proud to have you as my brother. And…you can do this.”

I nod, and a lump forms in my throat—my little sister, the baby who used to follow us around when we were growing up, is now a beautiful woman and is trying to console me.

Ryland clasps me on the shoulder.

Despite how I’ve been telling them I’ve made peace with everything in my life—the curse, the tragedies, my role in the family—they sense how difficult this is for me.

And they don’t even know about my feelings for Belle.

No.I grit my teeth.There are no feelings. Silas had feelings for Anna in a beautiful dream that was a fog-filled mirage.

Maxwell Angus Silas Anderson has no feelings.

“We’re always here for you,” Lana murmurs before pulling away and taking a seat in the front row next to Dad, Old Morris, Agnes, our housekeeper, and a few close staff members who are like family to us.

I scan the crowded cathedral, mentally thanking the wedding planner for adhering to the no cell phone and photography rules and see Charles laughing beside Steven in the second row, his gravelly voice traveling to my ears.

Adrian Scott, the infamous billionaire nicknamed The Shark, who is also Millie’s older brother, is sitting next to his wife, Emily, who happens to be Steven’s older sister. Emily flails her arms around, her face animated before she jabs Charles on the side, who mock scowls at her. But it’s Adrian’s gaze on Emily that has the lump in my throat growing in size.

It’s utter devotion and fascination, even though they have known each other for years and have been married for a few of them.

An endless thirst dries my mouth.I’ll never be able to have what they have.

Rolling my tight shoulders, I look away as the organist and string quartet strike up the soft opening notes for the bridal procession.

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