All Chapters of To Hate, To Love, And To Wed: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Her shoulders are stiff—no, her entire stance is rigid. and the way her father’s eyes dart to mine from across the room—it tells me everything I need to know. Firstly: They’re talking about me.Secondly: It’s not a good conversation.I’d bet my last dollar that my beautiful wife is spinning a desperate tale about how I drugged and dragged her to Las Vegas against her will, trying to use it as an excuse to claw her way out of a fate that has already been sealed.But Adaline doesn’t realize a few crucial things.For one, her father will never, in a million years, have the balls to call off this engagement. He’s a businessman before anything else, and business deals—especially the ones he makes with men like me—are not so easily undone.And the most delicious part? A few minutes ago, Adaline Daniels became Adaline Black.Everything leading to this moment was orchestrated. The second I decided I wanted Adaline to become my wife, my future, the game began. I moved pieces, played my hand,

I’m having another dream—not a nightmare, a dream. A good one judging from the way something gently tickles my skin. I exhale shakily, a foreign sound eliciting in my throat as I turn in bed. The gentle tickling doesn’t stop. I draw my brows into a furrow and slowly pry my eyes open. I'm still very sleepy. I feel like I’ve not had enough sleep yet. I turn again or try to, but it seems something is weighing my limbs down. When did the covers become so heavy? I groan, blinking up into the ceiling. Everything is blurry, my mind working too slow to register my surroundings. Shifting my hand to the other side of the bed and patting, I call out groggily, “Michael?” No answer. Of course he wouldn’t be here, the man doesn’t sleep. The tingling sensation intensifies and the feeling… oh gosh the feeling… my stomach ties into knots and summersaults, drawing a moan out of my throat before I can even stop myself. And it’s now that I realize the feeling is precisely happening between my l

The moment we boarded the jet, Michael had leaned down, whispering apologies into my ear. And when I cupped his face, kissed him softly and told him I understood, he disappeared into one of the rooms and hasn’t come out since then.“You seem tense, Adaline,” Kate points out as she comes and sits beside me. “Do you maybe want to go and look for him, know how he’s doing?”I look at her and smile softly. “I’m sure it’s nothing serious. Maybe he just needs some time to handle business.”Kate smiles back. “But you’re worried. And you should… maybe show him that you care, or make sure everything is okay instead of sitting here and wearing a scowl on your face.”I lean back into the seat and pop my thumb between my teeth, chewing on it as I think. The pilot’s voice as he announces how high up we are from the ground jolts my mind back from the thoughts. I guess I should go and see Michael, check on him to be sure whatever is going on back home isn’t really serious. Standing, I stride into

I’m irritated and I have my reasons. Firstly: Michael’s PA, or guard, or… whatever he is to Michael—has refused to give me my phone. His excuse? He’s acting on direct orders from his boss.Secondly: when I finally was able to get my hands on the landline, I called my father multiple times, and he didn’t answer even one call. Then I called Michael. The infuriating man didn’t answer my call either. Hours later, I’ve still not heard from both of them. No, from three of them. Kate apparently joined the ‘avoid Adaline’s call by all means’ team. Fuck them. I’m pacing the living room, my eyes moving around the space, my mind convincing me to relax and take in the beauty of Michael’s home. I don’t let it. Is it a beautiful home? Yes. But that is the least of my problems.I do what I always do when I’m nervous: chew on my nails.It’s not until late into the night that I hear the sound of cars screeching to a stop in front of the manor. I stop my pacing and stand, my wide eyes to the door

It’s silent. Even as a man who enjoys silence, I can’t say this one is an enjoyable kind. It’s eerie, and judging, and accusing. Whatever Adaline is accusing me of, I am guilty. However, I’d hoped this part of my life would stay hidden a little longer. I wanted to hold out a little longer, gain her trust before slowly easing her into what I am… what I do.But that stupid fucking Emilio stormed into my home and has taken that chance from me.They put a gun to her head.A gun. Her eyes are burning through my skin angrily. But beneath that anger, I can see the fear in them. The fear that shook her chin when she asked who I was. The anticipation tightening her shoulders as she waits for me to tell her whatever they said was a lie. “How long do I have to wait for answers, Michael? Or are you thinking of lies to come up with?” Her voice shakes.I don’t blame her for having doubts about me. I’m a stranger. I appeared in her life one day, pushed a ring down her finger, and later that nig