Page 52 of Broken Princess

He flinches a little, but I stop, trying not to smile at him like a cat smiles at a mouse under its paw.

"How's this? I'll be civil to you when we attend the same family functions. Each other's weddings. I'll walk past you in the hallway without slamming you into a wall, and I'll even let you continue to breathe. Given the circumstances, I think that's pretty damn civil. And do you know why I'm willing to do that, Stefan? Do you know why I'm willing to be 'civil' when all I really want to do, even at this very moment, is kill you?"

He swallows, not taking his eyes off me. "Not really. No."

I clench my jaw, staring him down for a few moments as resignation comes over me. As I realize I have to go through with this. Not just the charade of pretending like I can stand this guy, but the wedding, too. Taking the helm of the family, even when it would be so much easier to just walk away from all of it.

"Because I love Amelia, and I want what's best for her. And I want her to be happy. Even if it's with you. But if I think you're a threat to her, physically or otherwise, for even a single second? If I get even the slightest reason to believe you're not treating her or the kid the way you should, you're going to learn just howuncivil I can be. Do we have an understanding?"

He nods, looking a little surprised by my words. "We do," he says carefully.

"Just don't make me regret this," I warn him before turning to walk away. I pause to glance back over my shoulder. "Because it'll be the last regret you ever have."

CHAPTER 24

AMELIA

Inever really put a whole lot of thought into my wedding. I at least figured I'd be marrying the guy I had chosen, but looking back, that was pretty naive. So was the thought that I would have my mother at my side when it finally came time to go wedding dress shopping rather than my stepmother.

At least Natalie hasn’t been particularly wicked today. Somehow, finding out that I was pregnant before marriage hadn't lowered her estimation of me any. I guess there just wasn't that far to fall in her eyes, and now at least I posed some utility to the family.

I can’t get what Stefan had told me about her and his father out of my head, though. About the fact that Kayleigh might not even be my father's daughter, at least not biologically.

If there’s one silver lining to this day, it’s that Kayleigh won’t be in attendance. Natalie had made some half-hearted excuse about her having exams or whatever even though I know that isn’t true, because we had most of the same classes, just on different schedules.

Anthony is with me, which makes the whole affair a little more bearable. And he has been more than excited enough about dress shopping for us both.

"This is the one!" he exclaims when I step out of the dressing room in a simple white gown. It isn’t anything too flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. "You look gorgeous."

I smile at him, shaking my head. "You've said that about every gown I've tried on so far."

"Well, it's not my fault you're gorgeous," he says with a shrug. "Now I'm jealous tuxedos are so boring."

I can’t help but laugh. "I'm sure you'll find a way to spruce things up when the day comes."

"Yeah, that's never going to happen," he says with a heavy sigh. "What about that one with the beaded bodice? You haven't tried that on yet."

I pause to glance in the mirror, studying my reflection. There’s nothing I have against the gown I’m currently wearing, other than the purpose it’s for. But maybe Anthony is right, and I should at least try on the other gowns before making a final decision.

It’s not like I actually care what I wear to this wedding, but pretending to care about things I don’t is probably a good practice for the rest of my life.

"Okay," I say with a nod. "I'll try it on."

A few minutes later, I step out of the dressing room in the beaded gown. It fits snugly around my chest and waist before flaring out at the hips, and the beaded bodice sparkles in the light.

"What do you think?" I ask Anthony, spinning around so he can get a good look at me.

"Oh, my goodness," Natalie cries before he has the chance to respond.

She’s been talking with the shop owner about ordering a custom headpiece, since this has to be the wedding of the year. I know better than to think she actually cares on my account. It’s more about what the wedding represents.

A union between the Romeros and the Carillos.

It’s going to open up all sorts of connections and opportunities for her socially, and Kayleigh, for that matter, even though I’m sure the latter is still sulking over the fact that the spotlight is off her impending nuptials for the time being.

"You look stunning, Amelia," Natalie says, coming over to stand next to me so she can get a better look. "Just a few adjustments around the bodice and no one will even know you're pregnant."

I resist the urge to glare at her, but I can see that Anthony can’t from his reflection in the mirror. He sticks his tongue out at her, and I have to smother a laugh with a cough, grateful she doesn’t seem to notice.

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