He slept with her sister.
I bite my bottom lip to hide my goofy smile. Best news ever.
I’m lying on my side, staring at Sebastian in the dark. It’s late. We went to the ball and then came home and made love.
He rolls on his side to face me. “What are you thinking about?”
“I can’t believe you slept with Helena’s sister.”
He closes his eyes. “Please don’t remind me.”
“I thought you felt sorry for her?”
“I did in the beginning.” He pauses, thinking for a moment. “You know, it was weird.”
“What was?”
“The way my marriage ended.”
“Why?”
“Well, she had this hang-up that I didn’t find her attractive anymore, so she started acting differently.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. She became flirty around my friends. Wore different clothes. It was like she was crying out for attention. And I could see it happening before my eyes, and I knew why she was doing it. But…” He cuts himself off.
“You didn’t try to stop it.”
He rolls his lips. “After… I blamed myself. I was devastated. But the day I asked her to stop using my surname, she got nasty.”
“How?
“She started sleeping with people I knew. She took me for everything financially, and she even tried to get Bentley. She was hell bent on hurting me in any way she could.”
“Did she?”
“Yes.” He exhales heavily. “Each little thing she did cemented what I had feared all along.”
“What was that?”
“That I never really knew her.”
I frown, surprised by that statement.
“It’s one thing to love someone, but to realize that you loved someone who never existed is the worst betrayal of all.”
“I don’t understand. How didn’t you realize you weren’t compatible before you got married?”
“She was very inexperienced, and I thought…” He exhales heavily. “I only saw what I wanted to see. They say love is blind.”
“What did you think?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know what I was thinking, really.”
“Do you think you will ever be rid of her?" I ask softly.
He shrugs, "Surely her drama will end soon, I'm assuming, when she meets someone it will have to."
I have a confession,” I whisper.
“What’s that?”
“I’m relieved that you slept with her sister.”
“Because you’re a sicko.” He smirks.
“Obviously.” I giggle. “I thought you still loved her.”
He screws up his face, “Why would you think that?”
“Well, you told me this sad story about how she was the victim, and how you regretted it and it was all your fault.”
“I only told you why we ended so that I didn’t do it again with us.” He leans in and kisses me softly. “Helena is not a nice person, April. The things she has done to me since our divorce are evil through and through, and I don’t have feelings for her at all. But what kind of person would I be if I didn’t recognize my own mistakes in the breakdown of that relationship. It takes two people to ruin a marriage, and I was far from perfect. If I told you that I was, it would have been a lie.”
I smile softly, relief flooding through me.
“The night I told you about Helena and me was the night I was particularly hard on you in the bedroom. I thought I’d done it again and that you were going to leave me, too.”
“I like hard in the bedroom.”
“Like I said… sicko.”
“Takes one to marry one.” I smile.
He rolls me onto my back and holds my hands above my head as he kisses me.
“This time next week, you’ll be mine.”
“I already am.”
Fairy tales do come true, I know that for sure now.
When I was a little girl, I dreamed of feeling like a princess, being swept away by my prince.
And I have been.
When Sebastian Garcia tells you that he’s taken care of it, he really has.
It’s Friday , and we are in Toledo, Spain—the place where Sebastian’s ancestors walked.
The golden walls of the iconic Cathedral of Toledo are lit with hundreds of candles, while I stand in the waiting room wearing my cream, floor-length, fitted evening dress.
The church is huge. The priest, Sebastian, and I are the only three here.
There are, of course, ten security guards outside, but I’m trying my hardest to forget about them.
The wedding waltz begins, and I close my eyes. This is it.
With a deep, shaky breath, I push open the heavy door and walk out into the church.
Sebastian is standing at the altar. He turns and gives me a breathtaking smile. He’s wearing my favorite black dinner suit with the silk lapels and bow tie.
I slowly walk toward him in time to the music.
Seeing him there waiting for me with that look in his eyes…
I just want to run.
My heart explodes with love for this man, and my eyes well with tears. We fought hard to win this battle. To overcome our fears.
I make it to the end of the aisle and Sebastian takes my hand. He bends and kisses my cheek. “Hello, my love.”