“We are gathered here today to witness the union of Raven Du Pont and Ares Windsor,” he says, and we both breathe a sigh of relief.
It hadn’t occurred to me to notify him of a change in the bride’s name. I can’t imagine how humiliating it would’ve been for both of us if he’d said Hannah’s name.
I tighten my grip on Raven’s hand and draw circles across the back of it with my thumb, trying my best to ease her nerves somehow. “Raven,” I whisper.
She looks up sharply, her eyes meeting mine.
“You look breathtaking.”
Some of the tension in her shoulders eases, and she smiles at me, genuinely this time. I can’t believe I’m marryingRaven. She’s my sister’s best friend and my ex’s younger sister. She isn’t supposed to be standing here with me in a wedding dress.
Yet here we are. This is it for us. The Windsors don’t do divorces. How much has she had to sacrifice to be here with me? How much more will this marriage cost us?
The officiant tells us to exchange rings, and I cringe involuntarily. The wedding ring Zane is handing me is one that Hannah chose.
Raven looks up at me with such pain in her eyes as I slide the thin pave diamond ring onto her fingers that I struggle to breathe for a moment. It fits her perfectly, yet it feels so wrong.
Her hands shake as she slides my platinum band onto my finger, and she doesn’t even look me in the eye. It’s clear that everything about today is heartbreaking for her, and there’s nothing I can do to make it better.
“You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant says, and Raven freezes.
I take a step closer to her and gently cup her cheek before dropping my forehead to hers. “This is it,” I whisper. “From this moment forward, you’re my wife. Mine to care for, mine to cherish, and mine to protect. I know this isn’t what you would’ve wanted for yourself, but I swear I’ll give you my all, Raven.”
She pulls away a little to look at me, and then she nods, a small smile on her face. I smirk at her as I lean in, my lips brushing against hers. It was meant to be a chaste kiss, just enough to please the crowd, but the moment my lips touch hers, all my good intentions fall away.
I thread my hand through her long hair and yank her closer, taking her lips with a new sense of desperation. She moans, and I force her lips apart, deepening our kiss. It’s a promise of everything to come. She’s mywifenow, and I have every intention of treating her as such. This kiss is a vow, it’s reassurance. From this day forward, I’m hers. It isn’t what I wanted, but we’ll make the best of it.
Her cheeks are flushed and her lipstick is smeared when I pull away, and I can’t help but smile at her disarmed expression, a hint of lust hiding in her beautiful hazel eyes.
“Mr. and Mrs. Windsor, everyone!” the officiant says, and we turn to face the cheering crowd.
Grandma nods at us in satisfaction, but neither of Raven’s parents can bear facing her. I’m not surprised. They sacrificed her happiness in favor of their company. For years, they neglected her, and now this? They owe her everything.
“Come on,” I tell her. “The quicker we can finalize the formalities, the quicker we can get out of here.”
I don’t want her spending a second longer than necessary in a dress that isn’t hers, reenacting the wedding of her sister’s dreams.
ChapterTwenty
Ares
* * *
“Congratulations,” one of the actresses under my management says. Jessica, I believe her name is? “When I got the invite, I assumed it’d be something like this, but for some reason, I thought it’d be Hannah and you. I always thought there was secretly something going on between you two, but it all makes sense now. You were just looking out for your sister-in-law.”
My heart clenches painfully at the thought of Hannah being mysister-in-law, yet that is exactly what she is now. I force a smile to my face, and Raven tenses beside me. “The Du Ponts and the Windsors have always been good friends,” I tell her, unsure what else to say.
She glances at Raven and grins. “I guess this explains why there haven’t been any rumors about you in a while. You were secretly dating Ares.”
I tighten my grip on Raven’s waist and pull her closer. “Yes,” Raven says. “Ares and I are both very private people, so we’ve tried our best to stay out of the spotlight, and we’ll continue to do so.”
I nod and press a soft kiss to her temple, tired of this fucking charade. It’s been an endless barrage of questions that neither of us has answers to, and I’m exhausted. I’m sure Raven is too.
She slumps against me once Jessica walks away, and I pull her closer with a big fake smile on my face. “Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I tell her.
She grins at me so cheerfully that even I’m deceived for a moment. “Gladly,” she snaps, smiling brightly.
I chuckle. I can’t help it. “This is fucking ridiculous, but let’s put on our last act of the night,” I tell her, before bending down and lifting her into my arms. Cheers erupt around us as I carry her away, both of us smiling the way that’s expected of us.