Katya

The giddy feeling wouldn’t go away, so I glanced in the mirror to recheck my hair. I bought a new dress for my first date with my husband. It was a long-sleeved short red dress with a slash leading from my shoulder to the side of my waist. It was sexy without being slutty. I’d curled my hair and left it out.

“No, bitch. You have that look in your eyes. You will not give it up on the first date like a two-bit hooker,” Eliza said, making me frown.

“What about that Spanish guy you banged fifteen minutes into your date?” I reminded her.

“He was an exception,” she said with a smirk.

I grinned. “I can make no promises.”

Seth had got us into a luxury apartment in a great location with excellent security. The fact that he knew Eliza was like a sister to me and that he did this for both of us definitely put him in our good books. Eliza was on a month-to-month lease, so moving wasn't an issue. Grant could enjoy the space in her apartment for the remainder of the lease.

The door buzzer went off, and I checked the time on my phone. He was five minutes early, which was a miracle in itself. I took a deep breath as Eliza hugged me.

“Go and do everything that I wouldn't,” she said but paused to kiss my cheek.

“Thanks, Eliza,” I said as I rushed to get the door.

“No, thanks for getting me an amazing apartment,” she shouted behind me.

When I opened the door, Seth wore a dark blue suit and white shirt. He froze as his eyes wandered from my head to my pale gold sandals.

“Slow,” he choked out, making me smile. “You're not going to make this easy for me, are you?”

No, I wasn't .

∞∞∞

He fully engaged with me all night and didn't look at his phone or watch once. We ate, danced, and laughed like the old times until the end of the night came too soon.

“I don't want this night to end,” he murmured as we reached his car.

I bit my lip as I thought of what I wanted to do because neither did I.

“How about you take me to a hotel?” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck. We were still married, and I wanted him.

“This is a test!” he groaned and put his hands on my ass before he pushed me against his car.

He slid his hands beneath my dress before he cupped my ass in his hands. I could feel his hard cock rub against me.

“No, I need you, Seth. I want you inside me. One night,” I said, running my hands through his hair.

He froze and pulled back from me.

“Kat, I want more than one night. I want my forever with you, and no matter how badly I need you right now. I can't throw away my forever for the sake of one night,” he said before he kissed my cheek. “You deserve every promise, every vow that I made to you, my love.”

And just like that, his words brought me back to reality. He was serious, even with a hard-on the size of the Eiffel Tower. I was still deep in thought when he brought his lips down to mine. It was a soft, sweet kiss that slowly built up and made my heart beat faster.

The butterflies fluttered around in my stomach, a feeling I’d long forgotten. I held his cheeks and kissed him back until our tongues danced together. The feel of his beard beneath my hands, his body pressed against mine and—someone made a wolf whistle, ruining the moment.

Seth pulled his lips away but sighed and placed his forehead against mine.

“I love you, Celeste Winthorpe, and I will never stop loving you until I die,” he said as his nose brushed against mine.

I sucked in a sharp breath at the thought of his death and reached between us to place my fingers over his mouth. His intense dark eyes gazed into mine before he kissed my fingers.

I loved him, too, but I was too scared to say the words out loud, so I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him. His hands left my ass to wrap around my waist as he held me.

“Everything will be okay, baby. I swear to you,” he murmured.

I rested my cheek against his chest, and some of my fear slipped away. For the first time, I began to believe our marriage had a chance.

∞∞∞

I couldn't escape; there was nowhere to go. Evelyn had brought my mum to the apartment, and they were ganging up on me.

“Really, , do you think I never had problems with your father? We just never argued in front of you. I am so disappointed that you didn't call me. Thank goodness Eveylyn reached out to me,” my mum said before she sipped her tea.

“It was a good thing Saul told me everything,” Evelyn murmured.

Fuckboy strikes again .

Eliza was hiding in her bedroom like a filthy coward.

“We are working things out,” I said defensively. “I needed some space.”

My mum narrowed her eyes on me. “You have an eight-bedroom house.”

Evelyn tried to cover her smile with her teacup. She didn't need to say a single word because my mother was tearing into me. My Dad and Sterling stepped in from the balcony. I seriously considered jumping off the balcony before I came to my senses. My mum would probably complain that I was inconsiderate to her guests.

“Your parents will be staying at ours for a few days,” Sterling said, and my stomach sank.

My phone vibrated, and it was Seth. I’d messaged him as soon as they all arrived.

Seth: I’m on my way up .

I jumped up.

“Excuse me for a moment,” I said in an unnaturally high-pitched voice before dashing towards the front door.

I yanked open the door and stepped outside to see Seth running down the hallway. I’d never been more relieved to see him.

“My mum is laying into me,” I whined as soon as he reached the door.

He put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head.

“I will set things straight,” he whispered, leading me back towards my personal hell.

Seth was everyone's golden boy. He had to get rid of them.