Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
SOPHIE
I’d said I wouldn’t be surprised to see news about my supposed marriage in the newspapers the very next morning. But I actually was.
Merger of Rowks and Moreau?
Who Would Benefit Most from the Alliance?
Antonio Moreau secures strategic partnership by marrying daughter Sophie Moreau to major shareholder of Rowks Holding—Viktor Rowks.
“This is exactly the reason you shouldn’t have announced such things in front of Aster.” Mamma’s lips compressed until they nearly disappeared. At least she didn’t sound angry like yesterday—just tired.
She closed her eyes for a second, then rose from the table and followed Papa into his office. Minutes earlier, our housekeeper had informed us that my supposed future husband was on the line.
I wanted to follow her, but I wasn’t sure if Papa would let me in while discussing the details of our family’s alliance. And even if he did, what was I supposed to do? Stand there trembling, waiting on every word?
A knot formed in my chest, but I made myself breathe.
I could have retreated to my room, but sitting within four walls and waiting would be torture.
“Swing?” I turned to Cath.
She was the only one left in the room after breakfast. Rafa had left much earlier—before Viktor’s call—and Anne had followed him to his car, seeing him off.
We’d barely settled onto the cushioned seats when her footsteps sounded behind us.
“Is there any news?” she asked, sinking into her usual seat with a tired sigh.
It seemed our housekeeper had already told her about the call, so I shook my head and whispered, “Not yet.”
Before another silence could fall, Cath gestured to the newspaper in her hands. “After yesterday’s fussing, I was sure Edmond’s mother was displeased, at least.”
“She may have been at first. But think about it.” A flicker of hesitation crossed Anne’s face before she continued. “There were some judgmental whispers about Edmond’s morals.” She bit her lip, glancing at me, then clarified. “About how he abandoned you.”
Cath hummed. “That can make sense.”
“They want to change the narrative as if it was a mutual decision to part ways,” Anne added, lowering her voice. “At least Rafa thinks so.”
I looked down at my hands. On any other day, I might have asked more, but I was too tired. Perhaps afraid.
“Is he angry with me?” I asked instead.
“Who? Rafa?”
I nodded. Earlier, at breakfast, he’d downed his tea while purposefully avoiding looking my way, leaving me conflicted: relieved to avoid another confrontation, yet stung.
“No.” She shook her head. “No. But he is worried. As we all are.” She swallowed before adding, “Are you sure?”
I looked at her, biting my cheek from the inside. I was sure, but also terrified.
“Well… I talked with Mark, and he said Viktor isn’t as bad as people claim.” Cath clicked her tongue. “He also believes Viktor always had his eye on you.”
“That was all to needle Edmond,” I reminded her.
Viktor had never gotten along with my brother’s circle, mainly due to his rivalry with Alexander.
Yet I’d never seen them argue, let alone fight.
With Edmond, it was constant. I’d lost count of the times I’d pulled my then-fiancé away from another quarrel—mostly typical posturing: a shove here, a mocking comment there.
But Viktor really got under Edmond’s skin when he’d approach me.
He’d even flirted once. All just to spite Edmond. And it worked every single time.
I scoffed. “Didn’t you say he wasn’t friends with him?”
“Well, they’re in the same circle, so…” Cath hesitated, looking toward the window.
I followed her gaze, but there was no sign of our parents. Still, my heartbeat started racing, and I reached for my finger.
Empty.
My breath shortened, but when a stronger breeze swept through, bringing the scent of my mother’s beloved white roses from her garden, I managed to breathe it in.
“What else did Mark say?” I asked when my shoulders finally eased.
“Not much. We only talked on the phone. I can ask him more once we meet.” Cath twisted the newspaper in her hands. “Is there anything you want to know?”
I shrugged, but didn’t have a chance to ask more as Mamma joined us.
She opened her folding fan and cooled herself for a moment, but still her voice wavered when she spoke. “He was surprised to get news of his marriage from the newspapers, but seemed satisfied.”
I waited for her to continue, but when she nervously bit her lip, I rasped, “Mamma?”
“Well.” Her hand tightened on the fan. “Your marriage is in two weeks. We will arrange a small ceremony in the backyard. Limited guests—”
She continued talking, but I didn’t hear anything more. A ringing started in my ears.
Two weeks?
Laughter. Hysterical. Mine. “Two weeks?” I managed to ask aloud.
“Fifi, if you don’t want—”
I shook my head. What I wanted didn’t matter… But two weeks?
“Stop!” Mamma’s exclamation brought my attention back.
I looked at my arms—the red lines from the nails I’d dug into them.
Breathe! Breathe! Roses, white roses. All around. Breathe!
“Why so soon?” Cath asked, and I tried to focus on Mamma’s answer.
“Maybe some business security, or perhaps he’s afraid we may change our minds.” She waved the fan once again, this time in my direction. “Your father is currently talking with lawyers.”
The next few days would have blurred together completely if not for Edmond showing up uninvited, demanding to speak with me.
The first time was after the engagement news appeared in the newspaper. Mamma came, asking if I wanted to see him—I refused. There was nothing to discuss. But unlike five years ago, Edmond was persistent. He showed up the next day, and the day after that. With the same demand.
So when Mamma knocked on my door on the fourth day with “You have a visitor,” I opened my mouth for another refusal, only for the words to stick in my throat when she added, “It’s Viktor.”
Already?
I asked for a few minutes to prepare myself. But no amount of preparation could make me ready to face him.
“They are in the tearoom.” Mamma pointed toward the stairs as I headed for Papa’s office.
“Ah.” There was no point pretending this wasn’t a matter of business, but when I entered the room, I couldn’t deny that its soft colors, along with the afternoon sunlight, added warmth to the atmosphere.
Viktor sat across from Papa, two lawyers flanking them. When he saw me, he stood and inclined his head, sending goosebumps racing down my skin.
I mumbled something polite, if barely audible, and followed Mamma to the vacant sofa. She settled on the side closest to Viktor, leaving me the seat beside Papa’s armchair.
“I hope you didn’t wait long,” she told Viktor, turning to him.
While I tried to compose myself, Papa took control of the conversation, though I couldn’t follow as much as I wanted. My hand kept reaching for my empty finger, searching for the ring that wasn’t there.
So when Viktor presented one, I nearly gasped.
A delicate band with a single cushion-cut diamond.
Exactly like the one I’d hoped Edmond would propose with. The one I used to hint at so many times.
A lump formed in my throat. Did Viktor know? Or was this a coincidence?
I worried the inside of my cheek with my teeth. “Wouldn’t a family heirloom… be… more appropriate? Symbolic even.”
“Family heirloom?” Viktor asked, his voice quiet and controlled.
“Yes. Isn’t there an ample selection after you prevented your father’s widow from claiming any?” I noted, attempting to sound sweet.
His eyes darkened, but his tone remained calm. “Those were Rowks heirlooms, not hers.”
“Ah,” I smiled thinly, “so you’d rather not risk them ending up in my hands should history repeat itself?”
For a split second, Viktor’s gaze grew cold, his jaw flexing. “Pardon?”
Only when I noticed the horror on Mamma’s face did the implication of my own words dawn on me. She was probably bracing herself not to scold me for my manners.
I cursed myself too, ready to apologize for my outburst when Viktor turned to his assistant.
“State in the prenup that all Rowks heirlooms will belong to the future Mrs. Rowks. Irrevocably.”
I stared at him, mouth open. Mamma’s face mirrored mine. Yet Papa looked far too satisfied for someone watching his daughter nearly insult a man who had all the means to destroy Moreau Holdings.
Viktor cleared his throat. “That clause was never in my late father’s and his widow’s marital agreement. Does that close the matter?”
As if it meant nothing to him. As if the Rowks heirlooms didn’t cost a fortune.
I uttered no words, unable to find a suitable response. Better to stay silent than judge his negotiation skills out loud.
“Anything else?” He tilted his head to the right as amusement flickered in his eyes.
Was he enjoying my confusion?
I held his gaze, hoping my eyes told him how much I loathed him.
He crossed one leg over the other and let out a deep breath. “Can I assume everything is settled, Miss Moreau?”
No.
“Yes.” The sunlight reflected off the diamond on the ring. “I guess if you don’t have anything better than this, I’ll take it.”
“There are other options.” Viktor gestured, and the person beside him stepped closer, opening a box with over ten other variations of engagement rings.
“We can adjust any of these to your taste, or create something entirely new if you prefer,” the assistant said.
I skimmed over the selection—all beautiful.
The main diamond on each was the same size, but differed in shape.
And additional stones on the sides made them more opulent.
Some too much for my liking. Mamma leaned forward, clearly drawn to one of them.
But before she could say anything, my eyes went back to the original.
I couldn’t help but slip it onto my finger, twisting it once.
Warmth spread through me, and the knot in my stomach I didn’t realize was there loosened.
“I’ll keep this.” I swallowed, yet there was a strange lightness in my limbs.
The assistant closed the box with an approving sound, and when I looked for signs of arrogance on my now-fiancé’s face, there were none.