Page 35 of Vengeful Union

“My mother loved to garden, too.” I murmur.

Maybe Rory and I have more in common than I thought.

Pain flashes across his face, so quickly that I nearly miss it.

“Are you okay?”

He nods. “I’ll show you the pool and pool house.”

We walk up the hill toward the pool house, which stands a few hundred yards from the pool. It’s a full house on its own, probably two bedrooms. It’s even bigger than our pool house.

The pool is one of those salt-water ones, lagoon style, and the water looks inviting. I can’t help myself from sitting down at the edge of the pool, dipping my toes in the water.

“We keep it warm in the winter and cold in the summer,” Rory says close to my ear.

I turn to look at him. “It’s lovely.”

It would almost be nice, sitting here with him, looking off into the sunset over the top of the pool house, the way the colors of the sky reflect in the water.

If this wasn’t all fake, of course. If I wasn’t here against my will.

“Regarding the wedding,” Rory starts, and I turn to look at him blankly. He clears his throat. “Is there any colors that you’d like?”

I scoff. “I don’t care. It’s not like it’s real, anyway.”

Rory looks back up at the sky, nodding wordlessly.

This isn’t the wedding I've dreamed of ever since I was a little girl. This is a means to an end. “You can take care of all of it.”

He bobs his head again, agreeing, and we just sit there in silence for a long while.

Chapter Twelve

12

RORY

I takeLara back to my room before I decide to do some wedding shopping. I want to get this over with as soon as possible.

“I’ll bring up dinner when I get back,” I promise, and Lara nods listlessly.

I clear my throat, wondering if something is wrong. But I push it to the back of my mind , leaving the mansion.

When I arrive at the boutique, one I found online, a small Asian woman greets me with a big smile.

“Welcome to Soo’s. Can I help you with a tux fitting?”

“No, thank you. I’m looking for a wedding dress.”

I plan on just wearing my best suit.

She tilts her head. “Your fiancée–she's not with you? How will we know her size?”

“I think I can estimate it.” I try to think on my feet. “My wife, she’s a bit of a... recluse. We’re having the wedding at homewith family. Is there a possibility someone could travel to do alterations if needed?”

“Of course.” She narrows her eyes at me. “But it’ll cost you.”

I bark out a laugh. “Money isn’t an object.”

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