Chapter 2
The next morning, rain was falling over Ravenport.
I showed up at the couture bridal shop right on time.
As I pushed open the door, I froze.
The wedding gown I'd been longing for over six months was finally displayed on the mannequin.
The pure white silk skirt was stained with pink lipstick marks, the lace at the waist was torn, and the pearl brooch Maggie had worn last night was pinned to the chest.
This was the dress I'd picked out to wear when I married Damian.
I used to believe that, on that day, slipping into this gown would mean I'd stop being a human everyone watched and finally become a wife accepted by the Wolfe Clan.
I reached out and brushed my fingers against the pearl brooch.
My fingertips felt cold.
When I tried on the gown six months ago, I even seriously asked Damian if he thought it looked good.
He glanced down at his phone, replied to a message, and replied, "Whatever."
Back when I made the appointment six months ago, Damian was still listed as a joint contact.
So last night, when Damian told the clerk that I'd agreed, the clerk let them take it away.
The store manager rushed over, looking visibly anxious.
She said, "Ms. Lane, last night, Mr. Wolfe brought Ms. Reed here. He told us it was your idea. You wanted her to try on the dress to get some inspiration."
I stood in front of the mirror. I didn't yell or smash anything.
For six years, I squeezed into endless fancy dresses that never fit to please the Wolfe Clan's taste.
Damian always said, "Don't waste your time on stuff like this."
Now, he got plenty of time to help another woman wreck my wedding dress.
I pointed at the wedding dress. "Pack up this dress and deliver it to Maggie's place. And don't forget to include an exclusive invitation to my engagement party."
The manager stared at me, totally stunned. "Ms. Lane, you're not angry?"
I smiled, "If she's so obsessed with wearing my things, let her have it."
I paused and then added, "Tell her to leave it as is. I want her to show up at my engagement party flaunting the mess she made."
I turned and walked over to a rack of fresh dresses, reaching out to grab a black velvet gown.
The design was simple and sleek, with sharp, clean lines.
"I'm wearing this to the engagement party," I said.
The doorbell rang.
Charles walked in, folding up his umbrella.
His gaze swept over the ruined white dress, then settled on the black gown in my hands.
"Damian is still allowed in here?" he asked.
"He's still listed as a joint contact," I replied.
I pulled out my phone and opened the authorization page right in front of the manager.
"From now on, take Damian Wolfe off as a joint contact for all my wedding vendors," I said.
The manager nodded right away.
I turned to Charles and said, "Those rules were made for me who still hoped to marry Damian. But I don't need them now."
Charles moved closer and said softly, "It looks perfect on you, my dear."
*****
At two in the afternoon, Damian stopped me in the alley behind the club.
He was holding a bouquet of white roses.
Those were the flowers he always picked up when he wanted to keep things casual between us.
"Vivian, let's talk," Damian said, his voice rough and low.
"Look, I already chewed Maggie out about the wedding dress. Don't marry Uncle Charles to get back at me. It won't do you any good."
I stopped about ten feet away.
"Are you worried about me, or worried about your own reputation?" I shot back.
Damian raked his fingers through his hair, frustration written all over his face.
He snapped, "Vivian, I don't care how strong you are in the human world. You should know, being the Wolfe Clan heir's mate is never about love.
"Maggie's existence doesn't change your place as the one the clan recognizes.
"You used to know how to play by the rules. Why are you blowing things up now?"
I strode up, grabbed the white roses from his hand, and slammed them into the trash can right in front of him.
I said, my voice icy, "I only play with those who are worth my effort.
"I'm not playing by your Wolfe Clan rules anymore.
"I don't want a man who's already tainted."
Damian took a step forward, raising his hand as if to grab me.
The screech of brakes sounded at the entrance to the alley.
Charles' Maybach pulled up.
I turned to head for the car, but my phone buzzed violently.
An urgent, red notification from the Wolfe Clan Council Hall flashed onto my screen.
[The Wolfe family has raised a bloodline challenge, questioning the legitimacy of the human spouse.]
[The engagement approval for Vivian Lane and Charles Peyton is now suspended pending review. If you fail to secure clan witnesses within 24 hours, your application will be voided.]
At the bottom of the screen, a countdown began ticking away.
It showed 23 hours and 59 minutes.
Ann's call came through.
I tapped to answer.
On the other end, she spoke slowly, "Vivian, you want to marry Charles? Fine.
"Come to our dinner at 7 PM tonight and serve Maggie a cup of wine during the meal.
"You need to publicly acknowledge in front of the elders that Maggie is Damian's future mate.
"If you do that, you'll still be allowed to marry Charles.
"If you refuse, your engagement application gets tossed out tomorrow."
I gripped my phone tightly.
Damian stood behind me and said, "Vivian, come back to me. If you give in, we can start over."
Charles walked over, took my phone, and read the email.
He spoke up, "I can't crash a private dinner.
"Unless they go after you first, if I show up, the Council will call it interference.
"You don't have to go. If your application gets tossed, I'll resubmit it for you."
I stared at the red countdown ticking away on my screen.
Now, only 23 hours and 58 minutes left.
Before getting in the car, I fired off an application to the Wolfe Clan Council Hall's public witness desk. [7 PM tonight, Crown Night Penthouse.]
Once the email went through, I switched off my phone.
I said firmly, "No. This time, I'm not giving myself an escape route. I want them to be the ones who make way for me."