Page 67 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

“It’s just me,” he responded.

I didn’t want to ask if he was ok. I didn’t want to know. I was finally at the spot where the past with him no longer mattered. He watched me, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was trying to figure me out. He always said he had a hard time figuring me out, never understood what I was thinking or feeling.

Kind of like me with Alexander, I thought to myself reluctantly.

“Livy,” he started hesitantly, sorrow in his eyes. I knew where he was going and I wished he wouldn’t. “I never apologized… I never told you how terribly sorry…”

“Don’t,” I stopped him. “Not today.”

Regardless that Alexander and I were doing this as a business arrangement, I wanted to keep this day as perfect as I could.

“Are you happy?” his question caught me off guard. I didn’t expect it.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Alexander

Liberty Rain Caldwell.I loved my family name attached to Liberty. It was as if a piece that had been missing forever came back home.

I couldn’t wait to get to our honeymoon destination and have her alone. She fought the attraction between us but even she wasn’t able to resist it. I could still taste my wife, our first kiss, her little moan as her body pressed against mine. I never expected the volcano to erupt with that kiss.

Our first dance as husband and wife was damn near perfect. She was exactly where I wanted her. From the day we met and every day since, Liberty had consumed me without trying. I tried to tell myself it was just a temporary fascination… but it was so much more than that. I would protect her and cherish her forever.

Life had some fucked up ways. From the moment the scandal around my father erupted, our journey back to each other started. I wanted her more than I ever wanted anything else in my entire life. Liberty was made for me and I was made for her.

I watched her smile as she made her way through the guests before she slipped onto the balcony. I excused myself from the circle of men that kept talking and went to follow my wife. I couldn’t wait to hold her again.

As soon as I got on the balcony, I heard Callen’s question, “Are you happy?”

I saw red and could have just punched the guy. I wanted to send him flying off the balcony or strangle him. Liberty’s hazel eyes watched him as she thought about his question. It was a punch in the gut not to have her promptly tell him she was ecstatic.

But then what did I expect?

She was relaxed and comfortable around him; her smile reserved but tender. And fucking Callen watched my wife like he cared about her. He had no business looking at her like that.

It was stupid, but I invited him to ensure he knew never to come around my wife again. She was off limits and she was mine.

The qualities I hated in my father were quickly becoming mine. What was it with that fucking family that consumed me?

Chapter Thirty

Liberty

Iregarded Callen pensively, trying to find the best way to answer it.

“That is a funny question for a bride on her wedding day,” Alexander’s voice cut in as he took a spot next to me, his arm wrapping around me possessively.

“Maybe,” Callen didn’t get flustered or lose his cool. “I just want to see Liberty happy. She deserves it all.”

“Thank you, Callen.” My voice came out raspy, full of emotions. If I was honest with myself, Callen and I were better friends than lovers when we were dating. Maybe I needed all this journey to realize how wrong he was for me? Lena said it all along.

“I hope you won’t be a stranger,” Callen joked around. “I’ve missed all our games and how you beat me.”

“You are probably still a sore loser,” I muttered back with a smile.

“I kind of got used to losing at the hands of beautiful women,” he retorted back. “Seriously, Livy. Stay in touch. I’ve missed you.”

“We’ll be busy with our family and our publishing house,” Alexander answered instead, his voice pure ice. His comment had me whipping my head to him. “I am sure you are busy with your family and your publishing house.”

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