Chapter 22
Penelope
My heels clicked along the hardwood floors. Xander stood by the entryway, reading something on his phone when I walked out
to the living area from the bedroom.
“Sorry, I was having trouble with my dress,” I lied.
I was pacing in there for an hour.
The truth was that I woke up this morning, in my dress from last night, wrapped in Xander’s arms. My memory got a bit foggy
after getting in the car to return to the hotel, but the flashes I remember were of me coming on to him. Based on how I woke
up this morning, he must have declined. Obviously, it was the right thing to do given my state, but God, was it humiliating.
So I left early in the morning, before he woke, to find a dress. Avoiding the ache to feel his touch. Grappling with the realization
that maybe we could explore our chemistry while we were married. After groping him last night, at least I knew with absolute certainty that the chemistry
wasn’t one-sided.
“Don’t worry about it,” Xander said casually, looking at me from over his phone. “I was just returning a few—”
His eyes wandered down the dress then back up to me. His languid gaze weighed heavy on every inch of skin. In three seconds, every single emotion I’d tried to bury since waking up in his arms this morning flooded back to me.
“All set now,” I added easily as I adjusted the bracelet on my wrist and closed the space between us, trying and failing to
not gawk at how good he looked.
I’d seen him in all manner of attire. Suits mostly, given the nature of his work. Casual in a T-shirt and joggers, distracting
in swim trunks, and then dapper and refined in formal wear.
I didn’t know which version drew me to him the most, but this tux was something new. His hair was neatly arranged to the side.
His sharp, chiseled cheekbones contradicted his sweet, affable nature.
He stood up and closed the distance between us, looking me over appreciatively. He blinked a few times, leaned in closer,
and his voice lowered. “Do you know how to get out of this one?”
At the baritone in his voice, an excited chill ran across my skin.
There was no playfulness in those words. He was being... forward. And it sent an electric spark through my entire body.
“I’d better, it’s vintage Valentino.” My legs began to wilt under his unwavering attention. He ran an open hand along the
small of my back and let it rest there. “And if you rip another piece of couture, CeCe will murder you.”
I glanced at my reflection in the window.
Tonight’s gown was similar to the one I’d chosen for the wedding. Silk and nearly backless with two tiny straps along my shoulders.
A deep hunter green, a little more revealing than I was used to, with a slit that ran all the way up my thigh. I thought it
would make me self-conscious. In reality, I felt the opposite.
Like finally, I wasn’t hiding.
“I can think of worse reasons,” he whispered. His fingers tapped along my bare spine, sending down delightful sparks with
each gentle thud. It felt like he was testing the waters, and I wanted him to.
His eyes moved across my shoulder, then his fingers followed. Gently stroking an old scar just along my collarbone. It was faint and usually covered but my newfound preference for shoulder-baring dresses made it more visible.
“It was a wine bottle,” I told him, trying to regain some composure. His eyes snapped back up to meet mine. “When I was younger,
Arabella and I would play hide-and-seek and I’d always hide in the wine cellar.”
“I didn’t notice it last night.” His gentle reminder brushed against my skin, like he wanted to talk about it but wasn’t sure
how. I wasn’t either.
“Arabella would always find me since I hid in the same place. But once she snuck up behind me, gave me a fright, and I jumped.
The entire shelf of bottles came crashing down and one shattered along my shoulder.”
His fingers ran along the scar again.
“Ouch.” He winced. “Were you okay?”
“No, unfortunately I passed away,” I answered dryly, realizing it was fun to instigate even if that was a little dark. I liked
playing along, being a part of our little game.
His brows rose. His cheek twitched.
“A few stitches, and we weren’t allowed to play hide-and-seek again,” I added, answering the actual question.
“Did it ever occur to you to find a different hiding spot?” he teased.
It wasn’t about winning the game, not for me. “I liked knowing she’d find me.”
That I wouldn’t be alone, waiting for someone who wasn’t coming.
***
I walked up the stone entrance to my childhood home and felt a foreboding prickle through my chest. Suddenly, I wanted to
go back and change.
“It’ll be fun,” Xander encouraged. He squeezed my hand, holding it tight as we made our way up the steps. The attendants stationed at either side of the grand mahogany doors opened them as we reached the final step. “And if it’s not, we’ll leave.”
I nodded. His light demeanor almost lifted the oppressive anxiety as the doors swung open, but just as they did, my eyes met
Olivia’s, and Xander’s sentiment felt like it might be true.
This might be fun.
“You look captivating!” Olivia gushed. Before I knew it, I was wrapped in a hug. Olivia had to have been watching the door,
she got to me so quickly.
“Olivia, you’ve outdone yourself,” I told her as I glanced around the room. The grand staircase welcomed guests as they filed
around either side of it to the courtyard.
Everyone in attendance dressed in white-tie formal attire. The men in dashing tuxedos and the women in gowns one might see
along the French Riviera at the ornate celebrations after the Grand Prix.
“Thank you.” She beamed then looked over to Xander then me. “Mrs. Sutton.”
The two had only known each other for hours and were already thick as thieves. The Xander Sutton magnetism never missed.
“Olivia, you look lovely.” Xander greeted her with a warm hug. “If I wasn’t already married,” he jested and stood back at
my side. His hand spread across my bare back.
“He is too delightful for his own good, Penny.” Olivia grinned as she looked at me, then froze. “Penelope,” she immediately
corrected; her face fell. “Sorry.”
Xander looked at me, but I breezed past it.
“It’s quite alright.” I hooked my arm in hers and she guided us through the rooms that were transformed for the party. “Where
are we going?”
Inside, the rooms directly adjacent to the courtyard hosted neatly arranged table games. Poker, baccarat, blackjack, seemingly any high-stakes game was available for play. Fresco-style paintings adorned the walls, crystal chandeliers were hung along the center of the high vaulted ceiling, sending soft uplighting along the walls and floors.
“The courtyard, so I can get you both a drink.” She pulled me past the guests, who quickly recognized me. I could hear an
upswell in whispers as I passed.
Xander followed a few steps behind.
Olivia led us to the courtyard where guests enjoyed drinks and some quiet conversation. Each corner featured a bar and the
center of the courtyard held an elegant fountain.
“Xander.” She handed us both a drink. “All of the boys are playing poker, if you’d like to join them.”
“Is that your way of dismissing me?” He took the drink but didn’t take a sip.
“I haven’t seen this woman in over a year. And she comes here married to what I can only describe as a GQ model.” She motioned for him to go. “You’ve had more than enough time with her. She and I need to gossip, so off you go.”
“I knew I liked you,” he chuckled, then leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Are you going to be alright?”
I nodded and he glanced back at Olivia, gave her a wink, and walked to the poker tables.
“Please tell me he’s terrible in bed, otherwise that’s just not fair,” Olivia demanded when he was out of earshot. God, I
hoped he was out of earshot.
“Liv!” I looked around to see if anyone else had heard her. “That’s not appropriate party conversation.”
“The sex is great, isn’t it?” She grinned wildly. “Well, of course it is, look at that dress you’re wearing.”
“Liv!”
“He looks like the tie-you-up, tie-you-down type,” she mused.
“Liv!” My face heated.
“I’m right, aren’t I?” She giggled into her glass as she took a healthy sip of champagne.
“Oh my God.” I shuffled my feet a few inches back and forth.
“Come on now, tell me what happened. Last we saw each other, the Xu family ring was being resized for you,” Olivia recalled.
She came to visit me while I was in London while Maddox was there. “That gorgeous man fucked all the sense right out of you,
didn’t he?”
“It’s quite simple really. We fell in love, and I couldn’t be with anyone else.”
It felt like it could be true and that, maybe, the inescapable draw was worth exploring.
She put her empty glass on a high top next to us and took my hands in hers. “I’m glad, Penelope. You seem happy.”
“I am.” I took a gulp of my champagne.
It was the truth.
“Xander is wonderful,” I added.
When I wasn’t worrying about my family or how all of this would play out, I was having a nice time. Those moments in between
plot twists were fun; I was enjoying pretending with him.
“Penelope.” My heart stopped at the sound of a soft voice.
Then it restarted at twice the speed. I looked over my shoulder to see Arabella taking a few steps toward us.
Her pin-straight black hair was neatly tucked behind a bejeweled headband, not a strand out of place. She folded her hands
in front of her, along the simple blue gown.
“Bella.” I unfroze. I didn’t know if I should be excited or not.
Olivia wasn’t sure if she’d come. The two hardly spoke, and I hadn’t figured out how I’d even begin to talk to my little sister. We hadn’t spoken in years, but the silent anger that bounced off of her was palpable.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded quietly. Her frame was tense and her eyes narrowed on me.
“I wanted to...” My eyes fell to the floor. “I was hoping to see you.”
That was true, even though I knew Arabella was asking why I was back in Singapore after years away.
“Were you?” Her features sharpened after a moment of softness, like she felt the same longing to be close that I did. But
only for a flash.
“Of course,” I added sincerely. I took a step forward and put my glass aside to take her hands but she pulled them back quickly.
“I’m guessing the visit has something to do with your inheritance.” She rolled her eyes and waved her hand at me once, dismissively.
My stomach hollowed because she was right. “A home in Singapore, right?”
“Yes, but—”
“Why else come back here?” she said plainly, an innocent undertone. She was punishing me for being away. “Unless it’s something
for yourself.”
I tried not to flinch.
I was selfish for choosing something different than her? Phone calls worked both ways, she could have called. At the very
least she could have understood that while she wanted this life maybe I wanted to try something different. She knew that I
was so often scorned it was hard to fit in here. That toggling between wanting to stay away to spare myself the pain and wanting
desperately to be accepted by my family hurt.
I swallowed the anger. I was the older sister, I should’ve been the one to be the bigger person. “Can we talk?”
“Now that it’s convenient for you, you’d like to talk?” she answered quietly.
“Bella...” I began, almost pleading.
“Sorry, I forgot the rules.” She put her hands up, a purposeful scowl on her face. “Whatever you want, you get.”
A ringing struck through my ears. Indignation lit a controlled burn in my stomach. I had to endure growing up the begrudgingly
accepted half sister to Arabella and Silas. The ire I faced from my father and stepmother eventually bled into those relationships.
I was still a Chen, so I was family, but nobody ever tried to conceal the fact that my father’s kindness—if it could be called
that—was because of my Astor title.
That simple fact drove me away and kept me away, despite feeling like a part of myself was missing. The part that remembered
all the wonderful childhood memories with Liv and Bella. The part that wished there was a way back to that.
“I get what I want?” I repeated. “Coming from you, that’s rich.”
Arabella always got what she wanted because what she wanted was here and readily available. I wasn’t the same.
“Alright, you two,” Olivia whispered between us. I took a second to look around, but nobody seemed to notice us bickering
quietly, like proper ladies. “That’s enough.”
Arabella ignored Olivia, not bothering to acknowledge she was there. “I had to stay. I had to marry the man chosen for me.
I didn’t get to run off to the States without a second thought to my family or how my choices would affect them.”
Suddenly, the buried resentment I had for all my attempts to reach her going unanswered bubbled up.
“Get to? Don’t be angry with me because you weren’t clever enough to do it yourself.” The words settled all along her face
and I immediately regretted them. Arabella, while so perfect, might not have been the best in school. It never mattered; she
was always so happy to take on this life. “I’m sorry, Bella. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No, you’re right. You were the clever one.” Her voice cracked. “Count yourself fortunate.”
She took a deep breath, looked down for a moment, and fluttered her lashes to brush the glassiness from her eyes.
The words settled in my chest, making it ache. “Bella...”
She shooed my hands away, taking a step back. “Go home, Penelope.”
Olivia said something to me, but I couldn’t hear anything; I blinked a few times, registering her walking into the house after
Arabella.