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I wasn’t a roirl Then there were the otherproposed and planned under the threat of murder

However, I despised the falsity of it all, everyone playing a part, pretending that love was sunshine and rainbows, like it was forever Like there wasn’t a fifty percent chance it was going to end in divorce

Cristian and I didn’t pretend About anything If e had was really love, it was at the opposite end of the spectrum from what Hollywood and Disney peddled to the ly Toxic And I kneith every part ofto last forever

Though the wedding was important to the faanizations around the country, it did not last into the night Cristian disappeared to his office for a handful ofwhat he was doing

But not long after dinner was served, an hour of dancing done, Cristian ot a crowd of hundreds to disperse It happened quickly, and before I knew it, ere alone in the house once more

Our home

Not truly alone, of course There were staff, still cleaning up

The guards, triple the usual arounds Cristian had obviously expected so to happen, someone to strike I wasn’t sure who, since he’d made peace with all of his most formidable enemies

I’d asked hi as I watched him make preparations

“I thought ere at peace” I trailed oing over background checks for every single person attending the wedding Surveillance on those he considered high risk “It looks like you’re preparing for war”

Cristian turned in his chair, hands on s “Si vis pacem, para bellum,” he murmured, eyes on mine

“If you want peace, prepare for war,” I translated

He raised his brow in surprise, and I grinned at hi about me,” I teased

Cristian’s eyes were liquid, soured it was so that wouldn’t happen often

He pulled ht it anymore His touch My response to it It wasHarris, as it did often lately, the wedding date rushing closer, nore The realization that this wedding was going to happen, and, moreover, I wanted it to happen

“I’ll be married to you for a lifetime, and I am quite certain you will continue to surprise me until the end,” he murmured