Chapter 49
49
Two Weeks Later
My emotions have been a wild mess the past few weeks.
Well, months, honestly.
Some days, I mourn my relationship with Damien.
Others, I’m so angry.
At him. At my family. At myself for ruining our future.
He’s marrying Riona, and then what am I supposed to do? Stay single forever? He wants to kill any man interested in me. Yes, Levi was a scumbag, but he didn’t deserve to die. Maybe a good ass-kicking or castration.
After the jet incident, Damien drove me home, lecturing me like I was a teenager caught sneaking out. I told him he wasn’t staying the night, so he sat outside my building all night. He also has eyes on me all the time now. Unless I become a ghost, I’m stuck in New York forever.
“Why are you going to this wedding again?” Genesis asks while making herself comfortable on the hotel bed. “You know what’d be super cute? If when they ask if anyone objects to the marriage, you stand up and recite a love speech for Damien.” She slips a gummy worm in her mouth.
I sit on the edge of the bed and slip on my heels. “My uncle would shoot me. So, no, not super cute.”
Darcy scoffs. “Damien would murder his ass.”
Genesis nods repeatedly. “If someone so much as pinched you wrong, they’d get Damien’s wrath.”
“Ugh.” I throw my head back. “Let’s not talk about the groom.”
“I’m so pissed at him for following through with this marriage,” Genesis adds.
I stand and inspect my reflection in the mirror. “He didn’t have a choice.”
My dress is the blush pink that drives Damien crazy. If I’m going to attend my ex’s rehearsal dinner and wedding, might as well look hot.
Darcy and Genesis came to Boston with me, and we booked a suite in the nicest hotel. While they aren’t invited to the wedding—Damien chose not to provide a guest list for himself—they’re here for moral support.
I’ve come—okay, I’m trying —to come to terms with everything.
Damien didn’t fall in love with Riona and propose.
He doesn’t love her. That at least makes me feel better.
A few days ago, Cernach came to the dance studio to make it clear I would attend the rehearsal dinner and wedding. Why the rehearsal dinner is beyond me since I’m not involved in the wedding.
All I need to rehearse for the nuptials from hell is not getting too drunk on champagne, where I say something stupid.
Cernach invited Igor to the dinner and wedding, which most likely prompted my invite.
At least I’ll see it with my own eyes.
Watching Damien exchange vows with my cousin will be the reality check I need. It’ll be the kick in the ass that any hope for us is gone.
A reality bitch slap, if you will.
While I’ve let an engaged Damien touch me aplenty, that’ll stop when he’s married.
When he’s made a commitment to Riona.
Our dark love story will come to its ultimate end.
Lanie and my mother meet me at The Ritz for the rehearsal dinner.
Confusion rattles through me on why they were invited. Neither is involved in the wedding either.
My mother claimed it was Cernach wanting all his family there. It’s like someone unscrewed her head and implanted a new brain inside it. My father really did a number on her for her to run back to the family that’d done nothing but shit on her.
Fewer people are here than at the engagement dinner. As we walk into the room, Lanie stays at my side like a security blanket. She still fears Cernach will marry her off. Before I marry anyone, I’m demanding a clause in the contract where he can’t do that.”
Though I’m unsure if it’ll happen.
We don’t get much say in business decisions.
A long table is set up at the front of the room with circular tables surrounding it. I stand to the side, running my hands down my arms, and gulp when my gaze lands on Damien and Riona.
They’re talking with a group of people. Like with my mother’s change of character, it seems to have also rubbed off on them. Damien isn’t acting distant toward Riona. His arm is wrapped around her waist, and she’s leaning into him. While they don’t look madly in love, they don’t resemble an unhappy couple.
What the actual fuck?
He doesn’t look miserable.
They look comfortable, as if this isn’t the first time they’ve touched.
Fire sets through my veins.
My grandmother, Laosie, joins them, wrapping Riona in a tight hug. A twinge of jealousy hits me. I never had grandparents who cared. But from the stories my mother told me, she isn’t a caring grandmother. She turned her back on my mother as fast as the others did.
God, what is this, feel sorry for myself day?
I knew this would happen and thought I was prepared.
Cernach approaches the happy couple’s group. I cross my arms and glare at them. If there was one superpower I’d choose at the moment, it’d be to light people on fire with my eyes.
Or to be able to Stephen King’s Carrie them.
Yeah, that’d be better.
Cernach announces everyone should take their seats and prepare for a wonderful dinner. Like last time, there’s assigned seating. Unlike last time, I’m not across from the soon-to-be-married couple.
They’re seated at the front table, joined by Cernach and my aunt, along with the wedding party. Damien’s side looks empty with it just being him.
Cernach stands and raises his glass. “I’d like to make a toast to the happy couple.”
I can’t stop myself from rolling my eyes and already gulping down my champagne. Just as a server passes, I stand and swipe a glass off their tray.
I won’t toast to them.
I’ll toast to getting wasted and forgetting this night though .
“To Riona and Damien,” Cernach says, his voice loud and gruff.
I raise my glass, and the words are barely audible as they leave my mouth.
Okay, I don’t say, To Riona and Damien .
I say, “To Cernach going to hell.”
And it’s as if the gods like me for once because after everyone gulps down, Cernach loses his balance and staggers backward. The chair behind him crashes to its side, and Cernach falls.
“Cernach!” Aunt Fedelma screams, rising from her chair.
Gasps and chatter flow through the room.
Riona and Damien jump up from their chairs. Damien, as if a concerned son-in-law, helps Cernach to his feet. But without Damien’s help, Cernach slumps forward. The room turns into an uproar. Some race over to Cernach as he starts to seize while others, like me, are frozen in place, staring at each other, wide-eyed.
I sit back and sip my champagne, enjoying the show, as Cernach starts frothing at the mouth. He gasps for air, attempting to yell someone’s name, but can’t get the words out.
My mom starts crying next to me, but I only smirk in pleasure.
I might not have been able to Carrie him, but it appears someone did something .
Please, let this be the end of him.