Abby It was a warm spring day, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, casting a soft, pink hue over the entire park. Karl and I had been dating for three months now, and our wedding was fast approaching. Our marriage was arranged, and we were fated mates, but neither of us had uttered thos
Abby The masquerade continues around me as I slip away from Karl to catch my breath. Normally, I would enjoy the music, the food, the laughter, and the drinks. But right now, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. Everything is reminding me of the arrangement I’ve gotten myself involved in, and it doesn
Abby I’m still standing in the hallway, breathless and reeling from what I just heard. I feel as though I somehow managed to be in just the wrong place at the wrong time, and I nearly paid the price for it. Or perhaps it was the right place at the right time, because now I’m standing here with p
Abby Surprisingly, despite the turmoil of the evening, I find myself falling asleep almost as soon as my head hits the pillow. However, it’s short-lived. Or at least, that’s how it feels; it hardly feels as though I’ve been asleep for more than five minutes when I’m suddenly awoken by the sound
Abby The crisp morning air stings my cheeks as Karl and I look at each other. I hate the fact that the sight of his muscular body, glistening in the morning sun, makes my face feel hot; but at least I can blame it on the cold. “Um… Sure,” I finally say, agreeing to run with him. I don’t really w
Abby Karl and I are in the kitchen after our run, making breakfast. The smell of sizzling bacon and fresh coffee fills the air, and after that run, I can’t deny the fact that I’m starving. I glance over at Karl, who is engrossed in flipping pancakes on the stove. At least he’s wearing a shirt by
Abby I wake up early the next morning, determined to start my training with Karl. As I make my way to the home gym, a mixture of excitement and nerves courses through me. Karl is already there when I walk in, and the sight of him stretching leaves me momentarily breathless. His shirt clings to
Abby The training session with Karl leaves me feeling both exhilarated and exhausted. We’ve both worked up a good sweat by the time we’re finished, and as we stand there wiping our foreheads with our towels, I can’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. It’s been a long time since I’ve pushed
Abby Intrigued, I let Karl take my hand and lead me discreetly away from the reception, weaving through the tables and out a back door into the gardens. A mischievous grin plays on his lips as we giggle like teenagers, ducking behind hedges and scurrying across the lush green lawns. “Where are w
As the music shifts to a slow ballad, I feel a familiar pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind. “There’s my beautiful wife,” Karl’s deep voice rumbles in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He spins me around to face him, our bodies swaying in time to the soft music. I gaze up at him
Abby The reception hall is cast in a warm, romantic glow, with twinkling lights and the warm flickering of candles on every table. Soft music plays as Karl and I make our entrance, hand-in-hand to raucous applause and cheers from our guests. I can’t stop smiling as we wave to our loved ones gather
Abby The afternoon sun streaming in through the tall windows of the chapel casts the stones in a warm golden light, giving everything a sort of ethereal energy. I stand in the hallway, my arm linked with Anton’s, as the wedding coordinator prepares everyone to walk down the aisle. “Are you ready
Abby As I sit in front of the vanity mirror with the hair and makeup artist circling around me, I meet my friends’ gazes in the reflection; Chloe, Leah, Daisy, and even Elsie are here as my bridesmaids, each of them looking more beautiful than the last. “The seamstress really did do a great job
Abby With a gasp of excitement, I pull the wedding gown out of its box and hold it up in the light. Everything is perfect; the way the beadwork catches the light, the silky texture, the shape. I can’t wait to try it on now that it’s been altered to fit my body. Quickly, I slip out of my clothe
Abby “Abby, why don’t you sit down?” Karl looks up at me from where he’s sitting on the sofa, a look of concern on his face. He pats the spot next to him, but I shake my head. “I can’t,” I say, continuing to pace back and forth in our living room. “I won’t sit down until I hear back about that
Abby As I chop, stir, melt, and saute, the others stand around me, watching intently. The pasta simmers on the stove, the air smelling like warm butter and spices. It’s enough to make anyone’s mouth water. But my focus isn’t on the rumbling in my belly, nor is it even on the lingering pain in my
As we continue searching, I keep thinking back on our last harrowing hunt for black truffles; those poachers nearly shot us. Even now, I can still remember the sound of the bullets whizzing past my head, and the thuds they made when they careened into trees. “We got really lucky,” I say. “If we ha