Chapter 19

Home is where the heart is. That’s what everybody used to tell me.

“What a lovely home,” they’d say with jealousy at our million-dollar mansion with fancy cars and butlers and maids.

I never understood it.

Standing in front of my father’s mansion as it loomed over me as a nightmare did to a child, I realized this place never felt like home to me.

My father decked out the mansion in artwork and vases and a thousand things that I was not allowed to touch. I remembered every rule as Piers welcomed me into the house.

When I lived here, I felt more like the mosaic my father hung on the wall than a daughter. It was no wonder this place had never felt like mine. I never belonged there.

As I entered the large room for gatherings, I spotted every member of our extended family laid out before me. Cousins and distant aunts or uncles that I had barely spoken a word to in my entire life. Why on earth were all these people here?

Corinna and Ashton were here, much to my dismay. They were talking away with my father and stepmother, Tabitha with their plastic smiles. They were all faking their enjoyment in each other, that was plain to see.

I grabbed a champagne glass from one of the tables set up and sipped it, noticing how Ashton looked over at me.

His smile fell as he stared at me intensely, but I didn’t really care. He was nothing to me anymore. And I wanted nothing to do with him.

Surprisingly, I wasn’t in a bad mood just from seeing him. I didn’t feel a rush of anger or resentment toward them.

I just felt nothing.

I shrugged, continuing to search through the wide area until I found who I was looking for.

My grandmother sat on one of the sofas, looking as prim and proper as ever. She looked regal, fitting as the head of our family. I ducked behind

Chapter 19

one of the servants as I snuck up behind her with a grin.

Just when I was right behind her, the guests spotted me before she ever did- I breathed in, ready to scare the bejeebers out of her, reaching with my hands to grasp onto her shoulders.

“Hello, Adelaide,” she said, knowingly without even turning around.

of me, and my hands fell to

my head on the back of the

Now, come

“Yes, Grandma.”

chuckled, walking around the couch. She’d cleared a spot for me right next to her, and

Ashton’s gaze was back on me, even though his father was clearly trying to catch his attention, but it was like Ashton couldn’t tear his eyes

uncomfortable to have him staring at me, but I didn’t really have a choice in the matter. I’d rather not argue in front of Grandma’s

my granddaughter, Adelaide. You remember her, right?” My grandmother wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close with a proud

near my grandmother’s age but looked just as

France. She used to spend a lot of time here due to your grandfather’s job

I smiled brightly at her.

well. I have heard about your engagement,” Gretchen

“Thank you.”

Gretchen anything about her

Chapter 19

best not to roll

see me as she and Ashton approached. “I’m a bit disappointed

grandmother said, frowning at their appearance.

Gretchen frowned, “Did Maelyn have another child?”

air immediately went cold. I smirked, shooting at glance

innocently. “She’s the daughter of my father’s second wife, not

the two of us. “But you are of similar ages?

seemed to dawn in her eyes before they went cold.

see,” she said, simply, the disapproval in her eyes

nervously, her arm wrapped around Ashton’s. “But Addie and I get along well.”

Gretchen asked

be my maid of honor at my wedding, didn’t you, Addie?”

not really feeling as angry as I thought I would. I still had no intention of being her maid of honor, no matter how calm

today. Or

and the texts he sent me all night

had to admit, his teasing was always harmless. And the way he looked

Corinna, who didn’t know how to stop, Damon never went

Chapter 19

wife, that’s

honest, I couldn’t

was also intelligent and always

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