Trust me, I couldn’t forget that if I tried.
Glancing back at him, my stomach dropped.
There he was, with the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.
Her dark brown hair cascaded down her back, a diamond headpiece adorning the crown of her head. Tall and likely a supermodel, she wore a beige V-neck bodice with intricate lace detailing that extended down the A-line skirt. Her cape flowed gracefully behind her. She had a hand on Christian’s arm and Christiansmiled.
A gravelly breath tumbled out of me. My body fought the sensations of jealousy—gripping its arms and struggling to reel it back in—but it wasn’t working. They were talking like they had…history.
The mucky, adhesive feeling became overbearing.
“Adelaide,” Osama interrupted. “She’s just an old friend.”
He must have caught me looking but I didn’t care. It was whatever. Christian could talk to whoever he wanted whenever he wanted. Even after we were married, if he wanted to go sleep with someone, he wasn’t friends with, who was I to stop him?
I didn’t want him to sleep with anyone.
She shouldn’t pay attention to someone like him. Someone who was marrying another woman for the sake of power. Someone who was selfish, indignant, and ruthless.
Maybe he’s in love with her.Which is why they haven’t parted ways yet. They must’ve met a couple of years ago. He fell for her at a business meeting, but she couldn’t—didn’twant to cross the limits of professionalism. She kept her distance. But he pined after her. Wanted her.Lovedher.
Maybe I was an excuse to make her jealous. For her to realise that Christian was the right man for her.
Then he’d break up with me. I’d lose Starlight—everything. I’d completely and utterlessly by myself with no one to hold onto.
“I should go talk to Harry.” My heart beated insanely fast in my chest—nerves or envy—I didn’t know. But it was there, and it was persistent, and it felt terrible.
Harry stood in the middle of the hall. The group of women walking away from him congratulated me which I returned with a short thanks.
One hand in his pocket, the other holding a glass flute, Harry watched as I walked towards him.
Adding an extra sway to my hips, I purred his name. “Mr. Samuels.”
He stared down at me, a murky twinkle in his eyes. Unbothered and distinguished, Harry was grotesquely handsome. To seduce a man was one thing, but to entrance the man who was the reason for my downfall and the pivotal person behind someone’s trauma was another.
“Adelaide,” his tongue subtly peeked out and damped the bottom lip as he acknowledged me from head to toe. “I believe congratulations are in order.”
“Thank you, Mr. Samuels.” Discomfort protruded through my bones. “I was hoping to talk to you, but you’ve been…occupied.”
Something amusing lit in his gaze. “You sound a little jealous, Adelaide.”
People were around us and it was crucial to keep distance yet pull Harry in for more.
He lived for the chase. For thethrill.
Going after a woman who’s about to be married is about as thrilling as it gets.
“Maybe I am,” I faked a rasp.
“Then what, Adelaide,” he responded with a similar rasp to his voice. Except he sounded more real than mine. “Should I do about that?”
Harry noticed my shoulders tensing when he moved closer. “Hm, do I make you uncomfortable, Adelaide?”
Yes.“The opposite, actually.” I looked down at his lips. Cracked and too thin. “I’ve…” A beat. “Wanted you for so long, Mr. Samuels.”
Harry hummed, “I see.” His hand rubbed up and down my arm. To keep him entertained, I pushed my breasts together.
“I should apologise.” He then pulled me in for a hug. At first, my body remained rigid as his arms enveloped me. His hands rested on the bare skin of my back, violating me with rough circular caresses.
