Chapter 28

Chapter 28

POV: *Adelaide*

The woman in the mirror was unfamiliar.

That was what I thought as I hooked the sapphires through my ears, securing them with the backs.

They dangled from my lobes, the lights on the mirrors reflecting in the gems.

I hummed softly, tilting my head as I surveyed the stranger in the mirror. The strapless formal black

dress with silver trim was beautiful, and it fit me like a glove, but it didn’t look like me at all.

“I knew it would look gorgeous on you.”

I flinched, spinning on my feet to find Damon behind me, leaning against the door with a heated look in

his eyes.

“I look weird.” I sighed. “This dress isn’t like me at all.”

“No.” Damon said and shook his head, pushing off the door as he strode towards me. Our eyes met in

the mirror as he wrapped his arms around. my waist, pulling my back to his chest.

“You look beautiful.” He pressed a kiss to my bare neck. The feeling of his lips on my skin made me go

weak in the knees almost instantly. It was hard to believe this was happening. We’d been enemies for

so long, but now I could feel myself falling hard for him.

I giggled, leaning my head back so he had better access as he trailed. kisses along my neck, his hands

running up and down my waist sensually.

“We have to go or we’ll be late,” I reminded him.

“I’d rather stay in,” Damon breathed, his dark eyes meeting mine meaningfully. The desire he felt for

me was on full display in his smoldering gaze.

I smirked, turning in his arms so we were face to face. “Sorry, but seducing me won’t get you out of

this.”

“Who said I was seducing you?” Damon smirked back, leaning forward to kiss me. It was soft and slow

and sweet and something that I could get lost in. I could easily allow myself to be swept away into his

kiss but I knew better.

Chapter 28

“Sorry.” I whispered when we broke apart. “But I’m hungry, and we’ve got a dinner to go to.”

Damon sighed, finally relenting though I could see the regret in his eyes. as he let go of me. I brushed

the wrinkles he’d made out of my dress, smoothing it down.

“Ready for hell, then, dear?” he said, sarcastically, offering his arm to me with a sly grin.

“Is Peter driving us?”

“Of course.”

“Then, yes, I am,” I smirked, “because I am getting smashed.”

“Same,” Damon snorted.

Just as I expected, I was on my third glass of wine before dinner. My father kept sending me

disapproving glances as he tried his best to make conversation with the ever-silent Dalton Steyn.

Not even the devil himself would enjoy a conversation with Dalton.

Which said a lot about my father. But I loved him dearly despite it all.

My grandparents had skipped this dinner, not interested in playing politics with Ashton and Dalton, and

I didn’t blame them.

I was already bored to tears as I finished off my third glass of red wine, already thinking of my next

drink. Getting through these dinners was getting harder and harder.

“You think they have tequila or something?” I whispered to Damon. “Cause this is doing nothing. I need

something stronger to deal with our families.”

“As much as I love you drunk,” Damon whispered back and chuckled. “You should probably pace

yourself.”

“Boo,” I pouted, taking a sip of the glass of water he handed me.

“The election is coming up,” my father said loudly and grinned at Ashton. “How are the polls looking?”

“Good,” Ashton answered, with his diplomatic smile. “It is all due to

Chapter 28

Corinna’s support that I’ve made it this far.” He looked at her smiling. It was all so fake and instantly I

wanted another drink.

“Aw, sweetie,” Corinna smiled lovingly, laying her head on his shoulder.

I almost gagged into my water. I didn’t get how nobody else saw how fake they were.

“And soon, we’ll have a little one to care for, as well,” Ashton glanced at his father, a smug look in his

eye.

Dalton hadn’t looked at either of his sons during the whole dinner, which was to be expected. He’d

never been a kind father.

“You two are beautiful together,” my stepmother said as she smiled, sending a sly look to her daughter.

I had no clue if she was in on their little secret, but it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest.

She hated me, just like she hated my mother. And she always had big dreams for her daughter.

“Yes, this is a profitable venture for us all,” my father agreed. I could almost see the cash signs in his

eyes.

This is what they wanted to bring a baby into-this disgusting family who only thought of their own

profits. They were all so greedy, and power-hungry.

I clenched my fists under the table, horrified that I had ever thought of using a child between me and

Damon just to get the money.

We had to find out some other way to get the inheritance and prevent Corinna and Ashton from

destroying my grandparent’s legacy.

I wouldn’t be as heartless as my father. I wouldn’t do that to a child.

A warm hand settled over mine, squeezing gently, and I glanced at Damon. He smiled softly at me, an

encouraging gleam in his eyes.

I took a deep breath to calm my temper, squeezing his hand back to let him know I was alright. But he

didn’t let go.

Neither did I. Our hands stayed locked together, and I was glad for his

support.

“Dinner is served!”

The servants poured into the dining room with massive platters of

Chapter 28

food-too much for the group of us to eat.

Damon grabbed my plate to fill it with food; surprisingly he knew all my favorites. He even avoided bell

peppers, the worst-tasting food on the planet in my opinion.

I smiled gratefully at him for it, and he returned it with a smirk.

“More wine, ma’am?”

One of the servants came around, holding a bottle of bubbly.

“Yes, please,” I exclaimed and grinned, handing over my glass even though I could see Damon’s

disapproving look from the corner of my

eye.

My fourth glass, and we still had dessert to go.

I was not making it through this sober. I didn’t want to. They made it impossible to stay sober and civil.

By dessert, I just wanted to go home. Damon kept his cool better than I did, but I could see the

annoyance building up just behind his furrowed. brows. He may be better at hiding it, but he was just as

angry as me.

“Ashton has such a rewarding career, unlike my other son,” Dalton said-the first and only thing he said

all night. “Damon is nothing but a disappointment.”

Damon had to stop me from getting out of my seat and decking him at that one, but then my father

started to join in.

“Corinna is the light of our lives,” my stepmother smiled brightly at her. Corinna beamed then glanced

at me with a small smirk as my father’s cold eyes landed on me.

“Make sure to keep a firm leash on Adelaide, Damon,” my father sighed and shook his head, “Perhaps,

you’ll have more luck making an obedient wife out of her than I did at making her an obedient

daughter..”

Damon nearly exploded at that, if it weren’t for me stuffing his face with a forkful of cheesecake.

“Don’t make a scene,” I whispered. “We can’t let them win.”

“Speaking of wives, when is your wedding again, Corinna?” my stepmother asked. “I have to get my

dress prepared.”

Chapter 28

“Oh, I can’t believe we almost forgot,” Corinna giggled, looking over at Ashton.

“How careless of us,” Ashton agreed with a fake chuckle. “I’m afraid we had to move the date. The

caterer Corinna wanted was not available on the date before. We’ve made all the arrangements

already.”

“Oh? So when is it?” my father asked with a frown. “It wasn’t pushed back, was it?”

“No, no, moved forward, actually,” Corinna giggled, then sent me a smug glance. “It’s on Saturday.”

The room fell into silence.

“We know it’s short notice, but we hope you’ll all be there,” Ashton said, calmly, like nothing was wrong

with what they had just said.

I could see Damon working hard to control his temper, as I was doing the same. They really had no

shame. I couldn’t wait to bring their plans. crashing down.

“You’ll be there, right Addie?” Corinna smiled, brightly-victorious like she had won.

I clenched Damon’s hand under the table, and I could see the venomous glare he hid behind his mask-

the anger building.

I knew why, of course. We both did and so did everyone at the table.

Saturday was our wedding.