Page 70 of The Billionaire's Accidental Legacy

Every detail on his face, every line, every beautiful element that made him who he was, filled her, consumed her. Made her want to weep.

She couldn’t put names to all of this because they were feelings.

She had never been taught to prioritize feelings. She’d been taught to push them down. Put them away.

She had been given the mind that she had because it mattered more than her heart.

And she realized now that wasn’t true. Right at that moment, her heart mattered very much, and it was the thing driving all of this.

Her heart was now pounding so hard that she felt dizzy.

She felt for him.

She could feel.

She’d always been able to care. She had just been afraid to. Because much like desire, it would be something she would never be able to forget the finer details of.

And it would be horrible. And wonderful. All at the same time.

And if she lost him, if she lost this, then what would she have?

And she would lose him. Because this was never about forever.

The vows they spoke were traditional, and they made her tremble. Because she’d never had traditional in all of her life, and here she was in a white wedding dress holding hands with the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, saying sacred words in front of a priest.

She was pregnant, so there was that. That bit of the nontraditional, which at least made her feel like herself.

And when it was time to kiss, her heart leaped up to her throat, and he reached out and caressed her face, his fingertips moving slowly down her cheek. She searched his eyes for a sign that he wanted to kiss her. For a sign that this was real. For a sign that he felt anything at all, the way that she did.

Because she felt too much. Everything.

And then he leaned in, and it was like the whole world slowed down.

This was different. Different than the first time, which had been driven by uncontrollable lust. And different than the last time, which had been all lust and anger and desperation.

This was different. Because she knew that it was more than sex. Because she knew that it was more than a decision she’d made by thinking.

This was nothing less than her whole heart.

Then he leaned in, his mouth touching hers, and she ignited.

There in a church in front of everybody.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him, every beat of her heart trying to teach her a new language.

This language of feeling.

It was new and it was terrifying. Wonderful and debilitating.

She felt like she was being set free and shackled all at once, and maybe that was how everyone felt in these sorts of situations, but how would she know? Because she had never known anyone who could tell her.

His kiss was everything she remembered and more. Warm and wonderful and perfect.

And she breathed him in and clung to him, the memory of the vows they had just spoken a promise that echoed through her soul.

And when they parted, everyone in the church clapped for them as the priest announced them as man and wife.

She didn’t know any of these people. All these people out in the crowd wishing them well. And she knew that it wasn’t real. That it was all based on their feelings for him and his proximity to power. But she couldn’t deny that it made her feel something. This moment when it seemed as if she was part of a community of people. Rather than on the outside.

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