Page 135 of Sweet Wicked Vows

After five months, we moved back in with each other. Not to the house in Tribeca. We wanted a fresh start and bought a three-story townhouse close to Evelyn’s new job.

Which was booming.

Her publishing house was an overnight success, with her first published novel making the New York top ten list within the first week of publication.

She deserved it.

She deserved every good thing that happened to her.

She spent so much of her life putting those before her, ensuring the happiness of others, that she forgot to do the same for herself.

“You’re looking handsome,”Grand-mère’s voice muddled through my deafening heartbeat. “Olivier said you’re feeling nervous?”

I was going to kill my little brother.

My father stood at her side, arms linked to offer the support that she refused to admit she needed. Her recovery was better than anyone could have expected. Though she outright denied it, her mobility wasn’t the same.

“I’m fine,” I lied. “It’s just a bit stuffy in here.”

The gazebo we erected in the gardens was anything but stuffy. The front was wide open while people arrived. Despite it being winter, the weather was surprisingly milder than usual in Monaco.

Grand-mèrepursed her lips, hiding a smile. “I’ll get you a glass of water.” She turned to my father. “If you insist on babysittingme everywhere, come along.”

He rolled his eyes with a timid smile.

It was strange seeing him in an attentive role. He was still attempting to make amends with us all and tip-toeing along the line of knowing his own limits with us.

Penny came sprinting into the gazebo, her blonde hair adorned with flowers, and a blush pink dress that she described as a princess dress when we went out to buy it together. Honestly, the kid was smart, she went for the most expensive dress in the shop without realizing.

“She’s coming!” Penny jumped up and down. “She’s outside right now!”

Noah and Olivier jumped into action, settling everyone who had traveled all the way to Monaco to sit down. Standing at the top, I spied Violet and Lola taking a seat right at the front, both of them giving me thumbs up.

It turned out that not only regaining Evelyn’s trust was important.

Her two best friends were harder to impress.

But we got there, after having to buy one of the most expensive pieces inNirvana Galleryand offering to sponsor Lola at her next competition event.

Flynn joined the women and gave me an awkward wave.

He remained getting help in rehab, and though it wasn’t common for patients to leave the facility, I knew Evelyn would never forgive me for doing this without her brother.

I was still a long way off from forgiving him, but I’d be willing to do whatever to make her happy.

Even going as far as busting her brother out of rehab—temporarily. He was going straight back the next day, private jet and car straight there.

The only person missing was Frederic.

After torturing myself on whether or not to invite him, Icaved. He still hadn’t made amends with Evelyn, and despite my protests that he needed to apologize, he refused.

Either he was too ashamed or too stubborn.

Swallowing against the tightness of my shirt collar, I itched to tear the thing off.

Was it a stupid idea? Flying everyone all the way out here when I didn’t have the faintest clue if she even was going to go along with it?

Fuuuccck.

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