Chapter 8

Olivia's POV

I stood in that gaudy bedroom, my brain still echoing with the jollity of the reception. Before me stood that huge pile of silk and satin that more threatened to overwhelm than it welcomed. It was as if nothing was there in the room except the memories of the entire day: the fragrant posy on the dresser, the beautiful wedding dress I still wore—but nothing calmed me. Growing feelings of dread nibbled my insides.

My eyes clung to the closed door, the one Kellan left without one glance toward me. A wash of sourness surged into my mouth at the thought of memories of cool detachment in his eyes—what I seemed to get for the whole day. I had hoped like some sort of fool that things would have been different tonight and maybe behind that closed door, he would finally show me a small piece of the affection that I so hungered to feel.

I kept my ears tuned to the door, and then I couldn't move until Kellan was inside. His expression was, as usual, clean. He never turned around at m